1500 LIGHT RUNNERS GATHER IN SPITE WIND AT COPENHAGEN LIGHT FESTIVAL

1500 LIGHT RUNNERS GATHER DESPITE WIND
AT COPENHAGEN LIGHT FESTIVAL

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STORY

In spite of rain and heavy wind, 1500 light runners, who had prepaid, insisted on running the big light-run during the Copenhagen Light Festival.

The idea of bringing light into the dark seems to create a positive spirit.

This year’s light run was minutes from being canceled, but once all got started a unique spirit of fun and happiness dominated the chain of light runners. 

The route was approx. 7.5 km long and all was sent away in 3 groups. Some groups had fun doing the light-run. Theresa Haffer, Runner, explains how she felt: “At the beginning very wet, I have to say, because it’s raining, but then actually quite nice. Super nice being part of the group and passing by the attractions. That was cool.”

50 light artworks have been set-up, which is the biggest amount in Europe. The route passed many squares with light art installations giving new light to the history in the dark.

No lightworks have ever been damaged by people. 
“And I actually saw some very nice light sculptures, and I didn’t actually notice them”, says runner Jesper Grossmann, 36, “But it was really nice to explore”.

After corona restrictions were lifted, the Danish people started to come out. 

Nearly 50% of all people in Denmark have had corona and nearly all are vaccinated. The hospitals can now handle all getting corona. 

“After COVID this is an amazing event that actually is going to keep people going out and meeting each other outside”,  says Dorthe W. Barsøe, Vice President Danish Architecture Center.

The spirit of being together again could clearly be seen and felt.

The idea of the festival, that is to light up the dark and cold nordic February has been taken in by many. Many light runners felt they were spreading new lights themselves in the dark. “Because I was wearing the lights, you know”, explains runner Nicklas Højlund Nielsen, 26 years old, “ I felt like it was part of the attraction.”

Danish architects have a long tradition of including people in the design of buildings and squares. “For architects it’s not only about buildings, it’s also what’s going on between the buildings. So this is fantastic with all these people celebrating in the darkness with light.”

feels Dorthe W. Barsøe, Vice President of the international orientated Danish Architecture Center.

Several took the opportunity to dress up and 76 year old Eno Hansen won for best light runner decoration.

Biggest lightrun the world in 2023

The lightrun will happen again next year, when Copenhagen will host UNESCO’s World Architect Year, and expect to organize the biggest ligtrun in the world in 2023.

End

SHOT

    • MAN WITH LED MOUTH GUARD 
    • TOTAL START HUNDREDS OF LIGHTRUNNERS RUN ACROSS BRIDGE
    • TOTAL LIGHT RUNNERS ON BRIDGE
    • TOTAL LIGHT RUNNER RUN ALONG THE WATER
    • CLOSE OF LIGHT RUNNERS PASSING BY LIGHT WORK
    • TOTAL OF LIGHT RUNNERS PASSING BY LIGHT WORK
    • CLOSE OF LIGHT RUNNERS PASSING BY CAMERA
    • SOUNDBITE Theresa Haffer, Runner (Financial Analyst, German, 29)
      “How do I feel? At the beginning it was very wet, I have to say, because it’s raining, but then it was actually quite nice. Super nice being part of the group and passing by the attractions. That was cool.”
    • CLOSE OF LARGE GROUP OF LIGHT RUNNERS
    • TOTAL OF LIGHT RUNNERS PASSING BY LIGHT WORK
    • SOUNDBITE Jesper Grossmann, Runner (Chemical Advisor, 36)
      “And I actually saw some very nice light sculptures, and I didn’t actually notice them when I ran past them because they were very hidden and didn’t look real. But it was really nice to explore the city”
    • VARIOUS LIGHT RUNNERS
    • SOUNDBITE Dorthe W. Barsøe, Organizer, Vice President Danish Architecture Center
      “After COVID this is an amazing event that actually going to keep people going out and meet each other outside”
    • LIGHT RUNNERS RUNNING ON COBBLESTONE STREET
    • CLOSE OF GIRL HOLDING LIGHT ARROW SIGN
    • LIGHT RUNNERS PASSING THE FINISHING LINE
    • SOUNDBITE Nicklas Højlund Nielsen, Runner (Sales Analyst, 27)
      “Because I was wearing the lights, you know, and then there was like a big snake of lights running through the city and felt like it was part of the attraction. And kind of that we were also one of the attractions that you could see, which was kind of cool.”
    • TOTAL QUEUE OF LIGHT RUNNERS
    • LIGHT RUNNERS TALKING AND DRINKING HOT BEVERAGES
    • CLOSE UP OF MAN WITH LED MOUTH GUARD
    • SOUNDBITE Dorthe W. Barsøe, Organizer, Vice President Danish Architecture Center
      “Because for architects it’s not only about buildings, it’s also what’s going on between the buildings. So this is fantastic with all these people celebrating in the darkness with light.”
    • VARIOUS LIGHT RUNNERS LOOKING AT PHOTOS AND SMILING
    • HALF TOTAL OF LIGHT RUNNERS GATHERED IN FRONT OF THE DAC BUILDING
    • LIGHT RUNNERS TALKING TO EACH OTHER
    • TOTAL OF DAC BUILDING
    •  
  • END

Links:

Corona in Denmark

Regarding corona in Denmark:
In fact 30 to 40 people die every day and 30.000 – 50.000 are registered positive every day, but still the hospital systems find most cases now similar to influenza.

Most of the people are being hospitalized, not vaccinated. 

https://sundhedspolitisktidsskrift.dk/nyheder/3073-lynoverblik-dagens-tal-og-vigtigste-nyheder-om-coronavirus.html

 

Organisation:

Copenhagen Light Festival collaborates with the Danish Architecture Center and Danish Sports Association, The light run is called Danish Architect Run – Copenhagen Light Festival.

https://copenhagenlightfestival.org/event/dac-arkitekturloeb-copenhagenl-light-festival/

https://www.blox.dk/oplevelser/arkitekturloeb-copenhagen-light-festival/