Havana, July 18 (RHC) – Next Saturday July 20th, a race to celebrate what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 101st birthday on July 18th  will take place in Havana.

The starting line will be set in front at Revolution Museum in Old Havana and the track will cover 3.5 km with a turning point at the Memorial to the Maine, in the famous Malecon, and then 3.5 km more returning to the museum.

The race starts for walkers at 7 am and for the runners half an hour later. Every competitor who finishes the race will earn a spot in next Marabana Marathon, the biggest marathon competition in Cuba, next November 10th.

In a press conference at the headquarters of the island's Sports Institute,  South Africa ambassador to Cuba, Thaninga Shope-Linney,  praised the importance of this event for the South African people since it does not only pay tribute  to Mandela, but also to his personal friend, Fidel Castro.