The Mount Cameroon Race of Hope (in French, "La Course de l'Espoir") is an annual, televised
footrace
Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is ...
held at
Mount Cameroon
Mount Cameroon is an active volcano in the South West region of Cameroon next to the city of Buea near the Gulf of Guinea. Mount Cameroon is also known as Cameroon Mountain or Fako (the name of the higher of its two peaks) or by its indigenous n ...
in the
Southwest Region of
Cameroon
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...
in January or February.
[Jones.] The 20th edition of the
Guinness mount Cameroon race of hope was scheduled for February 14, 2015. The information was made public in a joint press conference granted by the president of the
Cameroon Athletics federation
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...
,
Emmanuel Motomby Mbome and the General manager of
Guinness Cameroun,
Baker Magunda.
During the Press Conference it was made known that the mode of registration and price
(10 million FCFA) remain the same but there will be several innovations this year notably the
Olympic flame
The Olympic flame is a symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. Several months before the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece. This ceremony starts the Olymp ...
that would go round the country prior to the race.
The flame of hope will visit every qualifier race notably in
Ngaoundere, then move to
Batie,
Bamenda
Bamenda, also known as Abakwa and Mankon Town, is a city in northwestern Cameroon and capital of the Northwest Region. The city has a population of about 2 million people and is located north-west of the Cameroonian capital, Yaoundé. Bamenda is ...
,
Yaounde,
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region. Home to Central Africa's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport (DLA), it is the com ...
, and finally
Buea
Buea is the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The city is located in Fako Division, on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon, and has a population of 300,000 (at the 2013 Census). It has two Government Hotels, the Mountain Hotel and ...
. On each lap of the tour, Guinness Cameroon will carry out some activities of general interest such as constructing water catchments, schools and hospitals.
[Mbonwoh, "Decision".] The event begins at
Molyko Sports Complex in
Buea
Buea is the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The city is located in Fako Division, on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon, and has a population of 300,000 (at the 2013 Census). It has two Government Hotels, the Mountain Hotel and ...
[Mbonwoh.] and follows a path up Mount Cameroon and back;
[Nana, "Mayor".] The course runs a distance of .
Participants are divided into men's and women's divisions and further subdivided into professionals, youth, and casual runners. Each winner in the men's and women's professional divisions will receive 10,000,000
francs CFA
The CFA franc (french: franc CFA, , Franc of the Financial Community of Africa, originally Franc of the French Colonies in Africa, or colloquially ; abbreviation: F.CFA) is the name of two currencies, the West African CFA franc, used in eight Wes ...
in 2011.
[Mbous] Teams may enter the race and compete in the
relay
A relay
Electromechanical relay schematic showing a control coil, four pairs of normally open and one pair of normally closed contacts
An automotive-style miniature relay with the dust cover taken off
A relay is an electrically operated switch ...
division. The first Race of Hope was in 1995.
[Vubem.] Since then, participation has steadily increased; there were 214 participants in 2005, 390 in 2006, and 643 from nine countries in 2007.
As of 2010, the winners since the race's inception had all been Cameroonians.
Sarah Etonge has won the women's division for four straight years.
The first race took place in 1973.
For many years, the race was organised and sponsored by
Guinness under the name Guinness Mount Cameroon Race.
In 2005, control of the event was taken by 12 local committees in Buea
and representatives of the national
Cameroon Athletics Federation
Cameroon (; french: Cameroun, ff, Kamerun), officially the Republic of Cameroon (french: République du Cameroun, links=no), is a country in west-central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north; Chad to the northeast; the C ...
(CAF) and the
Ministry of Sports and Physical Education
Ministry may refer to:
Government
* Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister
* Ministry (government department), a department of a government
Religion
* Christian mi ...
. The budget in 2007 was 130 million francs CFA, the bulk of which was provided by the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education. The change to public control was controversial: In 2005, Mayor
Charles Mbella Moki of the
Buea Rural Council
Buea is the capital of the Southwest Region of Cameroon. The city is located in Fako Division, on the eastern slopes of Mount Cameroon, and has a population of 300,000 (at the 2013 Census). It has two Government Hotels, the Mountain Hotel and ...
accused the organisers of mismanagement and proposed that Guinness to be given back full control.
In 2006, the CAF cut the prize money to the winners by 25% without warning, reportedly to cover their membership fees in the organisation.
About 5,000 visitors come to Buea each year to view the race.
Cultural and sporting events take place in Buea. These include artists, choral groups, and dancers;
and basketball, handball, and volleyball tournaments.
[Efande.] Local authorities sanction the event through the
paramount chief
A paramount chief is the English-language designation for the highest-level political leader in a regional or local polity or country administered politically with a chief-based system. This term is used occasionally in anthropological and ar ...
of Buea, who climbs Mount Cameroon to petition the gods for their blessing.
The 2007 documentary film ''
Volcanic Sprint'' is about the race.
[ "Volcanic Sprint". ]
The 2019 race saw marginal attendance due to the ongoing
Anglophone Crisis
The Anglophone Crisis (), also known as the Ambazonia War or the Cameroonian Civil War, is an ongoing civil war in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon, part of the long-standing Anglophone problem. Following the suppression of the ...
.
During the 2023 edition, nineteen athletes were injured when small bombs exploded during the race.
File:Sueur d'espoir.jpg, Female athlete during mt Cameroon race of hope at few meter to the finish line
File:Cameroon Mountain Race.webm
File:Athele au Mont Cameroun.jpg
Notes
{{reflist
References
* Constantine N. Mbufun
view my profile (26 December 2014). Benly Anchunda '2015 MOUNT CAMEROON RACE OF HOPE SCHEDULED FOR 14TH FEBRUARY'. CRTV News 06/12/2014
* Efande, Peter (16 February 2007). "Ange Sama: 'We've Increased The Financial Package For Winners'". ''Cameroon Tribune''. Accessed 20 February 2007.
* Jones, Emma (no date).
Mount Cameroon Race of Hope Marathon, ''Pilot Destination Guide''. Accessed 1 August 2008.
* Mbonwoh, Nkeze (16 February 2007). "All Set for Sunday's Race of Hope". ''Cameroon Tribune''. Accessed 20 February 2007.
* Mbonwoh, Nkeze (10 February 2010). "Modification of Race of Hope - Decision Suspended". "allAfrica.com". Accessed 11 February 2010.
* Mbous, Jacques Sebastien (6 January 2011). "16eme Edition de la Course de l'Espoir." Official Note from Cameroon Athletic Federation, 6 January 2011.
* Nana, Walter Wilson (24 February 2005). "Buea Wants Guinness To Manage Race Of Hope - Mayor". ''The Post Online''. Accessed 21 February 2007.
* Nana, Walter Wilson (13 January 2006). "Race Of Hope Winner To Bag FCFA 3 Million". ''The Post Online''. Accessed 21 February 2007.
* Nana, Walter Wilson, and Innocent Mbunwe (27 February 2006). "2006 Mount Cameroon Race Of Hoope: Winners Angry With 25% Prize Slash". ''The Post Online''. Accessed 21 February 2007.
* Nana, Walter Wilson, and Innocent Mbunwe (1 March 2005). "Race Of Hope: Teacher Is New Champion, Etonge Confirms 'Queen Of The Mountain' Supremacy". ''The Post Online''. Accessed 21 February 2007.
* Vubem, Fred (14 February 2007). "Mt. Cameroon Race Mixed Commission Evaluates Preparations". ''Cameroon Tribune''. Accessed 20 February 2007.
* ----- (no date) "Volcanic Sprint". imdb.com. Accessed 11 February 2007.
Mount Cameroon
Recurring sporting events established in 1995
Marathons in Africa
Sport in Cameroon
Mountain running competitions
1995 establishments in Cameroon