A special parade through San José will end in the Opening Ceremony at Juan Rafael Mora Porras Square - Costa Ricans are the special guests for the Adventure Race World Championship Costa Rica 2013; the ticos (and tourists in San Jose) will enjoy cultural activities for the opening, including a street parade with the ARWC 2013 delegations. 

 

The opening ceremony will start at 6:00pm, on Saturday, November 30th at the Radisson Hotel. The competitors, staff and special guests will march from the Hotel through San Jose streets to the Juan Rafael Mora Porras Square (in front of the Correos de Costa Rica Building). International media people are invited to join the parade. "We want to see ticos on the streets, cheering the competitors and getting to know them. The 260 racers came to Costa Rica to enjoy adventure sports that any Costa Rican could do whenever he wants. They are going to intern in our mountains and jungles for 9 days and deserve a great welcome" said Alexander "Pongo" Baker, the Race Director. The parade would be accompanied by a high school marching band and escorted by the ARWC 2013 cars and San José's Police. 

 

Once in the Juan Rafael Mora Porras Square, the ARWC 2013 would be declared officially inaugurated and racers and attendees would enjoy a cultural event by the Banda de San José. "We have planned a great activity, we invite all Costa Ricans to join us in the parade and in the opening ceremony. Our visitors should feel our warmth," said Johana Argüello, Administrative Director for the ARWC 2013. After the Official Ceremony, the competitor would enjoy a special dinner for them. Once they are finish, they would walk back to the Radisson. 

 

The Opening Ceremony is supported by Municipalidad de San José (San José's City Hall), Fuerza Pública de Costa Rica (police), Casa Presidencial (Costa Rica's Central Government), the Costa Tourism Board, Toyota, Toyota Rent a Car, Aventuras de Sarapiquí, Hotel Radisson and Kailash.

 

Parque La Libertad will receive hundreds of volunteers

 

On December 1st, the 65 teams would participate in a Social Responsibility Activity. The idea is to reduce the ARWC 2013 carbon footprint. Runners accompanied by staff and special guests will participate in a volunteering program at Parque La Libertad. They would help with trails maintenance and other activities on gardens. There would be more than 400 people doing volunteering work at the park. If you are in Costa Rica and want to join us, you are welcome. 

 

Parque la Libertad is a park and project managed by the Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud (Costa Rican Culture and Youth Ministry) in conjunction with two other Offices. The park is a space for interaction and supporting of artistic, environmental, urban and rural cultural projects. It's located in Desamparados, San Jose. The ARWC Organizing Committee organized the social responsibility activity with Fundación Horizontes and Ferretería Epa (Hardware Store); they are providing all the materials racers would need at the park. "Thanks to our sponsor Horizontes Travel Agency, we could coordinate with Parque la Libertad and Ferretería Epa for this activity. It is really important for us as Organization to return back something to our country and its nature. In addition to this project in San Jose, we have work with almost every community where the race would pass; what we pretend is to have a positive impact in every town," said Argüello.