Lotte will hold the 11th Super Blue Marathon on Oct. 9 at Peace Plaza in Peace Park, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Registration opens on a first-come, first-served basis for up to 8,000 participants through Thursday.
The Super Blue Marathon is one of Lotte's signature corporate social responsibility events, bringing together people with and without disabilities to run while wearing blue shoelaces — a symbol of hope and independence for people with disabilities.
The event features four courses: a 1.6-kilometer walk and a 5-kilometer run open to participants with and without disabilities, and 5- and 10-kilometer runs for those without disabilities. The entry fee for participants without disabilities is 30,000 won ($22), while participants with disabilities may register free of charge for up to four people, including themselves.
Lotte has partnered with Special Olympics Korea, a nonprofit that supports sports activities for people with developmental disabilities, since 2013 on the "Blue Campaign," which promotes respectful language use and greater awareness around disability. The Super Blue Marathon has been held annually since 2015 and has drawn a cumulative total of about 80,000 participants.
This year, with the event falling on Hangul Day, Lotte has chosen "Use the right words for people with disabilities" as its central message, aiming to raise awareness of appropriate language around disability alongside broader efforts to improve public understanding.
Lotte affiliates will also take part. Lotte World will stage a performance featuring its mascot characters Lotty and Lorry. Lotte Wellfood and Lotte Chilsung will provide snacks and drinks. Lotte Chemical will run a recycling booth, and Canon Korea will host a photo zone event. A performance by the SOK Ensemble — a group of musicians with developmental disabilities — is also planned.
"The Super Blue Marathon is meaningful because it gives people with and without disabilities a chance to walk and run together and understand each other's differences," a Lotte official said. "This year, with Hangul Day as the backdrop, we hope the event will naturally spark reflection on the words and expressions we use every day and help spread a more accurate understanding of disability."
spa@heraldcorp.com
