Learn all about Rotterdam Marathon
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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in the Netherlands Series at DutchPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Dutch holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 21, The Rotterdam Marathon. In Dutch, it's called [Marathon van Rotterdam]. |
| The Rotterdam Marathon is held every year in early April, with thousands of runners poised at the starting line on Coolsingel Street. No other marathon in the Netherlands can match the atmosphere in Rotterdam, where more than 925,000 enthusiastic spectators stand and cheer along the race route. |
| In this lesson, you’ll learn more about the Rotterdam Marathon! |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question? |
| What Dutch film is themed around the Rotterdam Marathon? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| Running, or [hardlopen], has gained a spectacular boost in popularity in the past four decades in the Netherlands. With about four million people in the country, running constitutes the third most popular sport. As many as 1.6 million people run at least once a week, and 1.3 million people regularly participate in some kind of running event. Like other countries, running has a very positive image in the Netherlands. It’s considered a great sport for go-getters and it's good for one’s health, or [gezondheid] in Dutch. |
| In order to make it a memorable experience for everyone, an event called “The Rotterdam Running Experience” is also organized alongside the marathon. This is a huge gathering of dozens of bands, DJs, orchestras, and jumbotrons with encouraging messages along the route. “The Rotterdam Running Experience” consists of two parts, namely the Heartbeat of Rotterdam, a recurring musical component, and an initiative called “The Marathon Supporter". |
| To encourage runners, thousands of spectators cheer them on from the sideline each year. “To cheer” in Dutch is [aanmoedigen]. Spectators help runners tough it out when they are feeling weak and greet every finisher with a hero's welcome. As a result, each runner goes home feeling unbeatable. At the Marathon Supporter, spectators, or [toeschouwers] in Dutch, send personal notes of encouragement to “their” marathon runner. During the race, huge electronic displays are situated at two points along the route. When runners pass by these locations, they get to see the messages that were personalized and submitted just for them. |
| From 2011, a Kids' Run has also been held the Saturday before the marathon. This additional activity is a leading reason why this annual event plays an even broader social role, promoting a healthy lifestyle among people young and old. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| What Dutch film is themed around the Rotterdam Marathon? |
| It’s the film called [de Marathon], which means“The Marathon”. It was a Dutch film that took the Golden Calf, or [Gouden Kalf], which is the Netherlands' most auspicious prize for the UPC Audience Award during the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht after its release in 2012. |
| What did you think of this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| Have you ever run a marathon? |
| Leave us your comments on DutchPod101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson. |
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