Passengers riding on the Metrolink this week can expect to hear some familiar voices making guest announcements on the tram network in the leadup to this year’s AJ Bell Great Manchester Run.
Ahead of running his last ever race in Manchester, four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah will be taking over the Metrolink airwaves alongside Commonwealth Games champion Eilish McColgan to share travel advice ahead of the event’s 20th anniversary on Sunday 21st May.
The decorated duo will be encouraging people to ‘get on your marks, get set, ‘mo!’ and plan ahead of what will be a busy day on the transport network in Manchester, Trafford and Salford.
Significant road closures will be in place to accommodate the half marathon and 10k races. Dedicated travel advice for competitors, spectators and the wider travelling public can be found on the Transport for Greater Manchester website.
Metrolink passengers will be reminded by Sir Mo and Eilish to touch-in and touch-out if paying by contactless, which is the most convenient way to pay for tram travel. Metrolink also has several stops that are close to the start and finish lines for both races.
The athletes are the latest in a long-line of famous and familiar voices to be heard across the UK’s largest tram network, with Tony the Tiger, Professor Brian Cox, Shaun Ryder, Sir Kenneth Branagh and many others having also made guest announcements.
Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Head of Metrolink, said: “We’re really excited to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Great Manchester Run and we can’t wait to welcome people onto the network this weekend.
“We’re delighted to have Sir Mo Farah and Eilish McColgan making announcements on Metrolink, and I’m sure our passengers will enjoy hearing their voices in the lead-up to what is a brilliant event.”
Around 25,000 runners – including Sir Mo – are expected to take part across the two races, with thousands more expected to line the routes which will take in Manchester city centre, Trafford and Salford.
Along with the incredible local support, there will also be live music, charity cheering squads and entertainment zones on hand to help runners get over the line.
Sir Brendan Foster, founder of The Great Run Company said, “It’s a great privilege for us to celebrate the 20th AJ Bell Great Manchester Run this year – something we’re only able to do because of the way the event has been embraced by the people of Manchester and the North West as a whole.
“With the support of our partners and organisations across the region, such as the Transport for Greater Manchester, it’s been very special to see the event become such an integral part of the city.”
“We are also honoured that Sir Mo Farah has chosen the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run as one of his final professional races, and we will be joined over the weekend by Commonwealth champion and Great Run Ambassador, Eilish McColgan, as we celebrate the past two decades.
“As part of these celebrations, Sir Mo and Eilish have recorded announcements to be played throughout the week across the tram network.”
“We hope their voices will inspire runners and spectators alike as they travel to and from the event on Sunday 21st May. We can’t wait to see everyone come together and celebrate 20 years of this iconic event.”
For more information on the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run, click here.
Photo credit: Transport for Greater Manchester
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