Short hair, floral scarf, around seventy: A woman looking astonished pushes herself through the barrier and out of the crowd at the last second. She came from Stuttgart, was visiting her daughter – “and now something like that.” She didn’t expect such a colorful and happy reception, she says with a laugh.
The scenery that opens up before the visitor makes many of those present rejoice. A sea of light green T-shirts, thousands of people stand on Flower Street in the center, lined with what feels like just as many onlookers. The sun beats on the asphalt, children clap their hands on their parents’ shoulders – everywhere you look there are smiles and laughter.
Helpers clear the barrier at the intersection. The “Giro di Monaco” charity run at the Bellevue di Monaco cultural center is about to start. The motto that can be read on the participants’ T-shirts is: “It only works together!” The run is a kind of demonstration for tolerance and against racism, “a sporting symbol for democracy and an open society,” as the organizers put it. It’s taking place for the third time. It goes around the city center, once along the old town ring in a clockwise direction, Giro also means round in Italian. Five kilometers away, the destination is again at the intersection with Corneliusstrasse at Bellevue di Monaco, where a street festival takes place afterwards.
It is difficult to say how many people are supporting democracy by dancing, running, walking or strolling. Many of those who didn’t make it onto the official career on the streets run part-time or only join it later. Some even run the lap twice. There were just over 7,000 registrations in advance, says Barbara Bergau, managing director of the Bellevue di Monaco. The police later reported around 10,000 participants. The number was estimated to be similarly high last year.
In the last quarter of an hour before the start the Spider Murphy Gang onto the stage – the roof of a double-decker bus. Frontman Günther Sigl asks the crowd who else at the run was born in 1947 like him, and a few actually cheer. “Don’t let up,” Sigl calls into the microphone. The band then warms up the crowd with their typical good-humored rock’n’roll drive. It’s difficult to stand still, as you can see in the waiting runners, their legs move along as if by themselves.
However, the majority of participants are younger than Sigl. For example Josef, a 29-year-old from Lower Bavaria who does not want to give his last name. He has been living in Munich for a few years and he takes part in the fundraising run because it is simply “a cool campaign,” he says. He could run five kilometers in about half an hour. But it doesn’t really matter how long it takes, because he also wants to chat a bit with his friends and just have a good time. For example, the Spaniard Enar, who is standing nearby, runs along “For solidarity”.
Groups were specifically addressed in advance, such as refugees from accommodation or people with disabilities, says managing director Bergau. “Everyone can participate here on an equal basis; it doesn’t matter the language or profession.” Participation is free, but is linked to a call for donations with a target of 125,000 euros. In the early afternoon after the run, 122,800 euros had already been raised, according to the homepage. The money will go towards financing Bellevue di Monaco projects to support refugees.