It is especially the camaraderie and socialising with colleagues that brings 160,000 people together for the now sold-out DHL Relay Race in Copenhagen.

For the third year in a row, Sparta Athletics & Running is bringing together a record number of people in Fælledparken and has now announced that the DHL Relay Race Copenhagen on 25-29 August 2025 is sold out. With 160,000 people, it will be the largest DHL Stafetten Copenhagen ever, and according to Sparta, the major event has thus reached its maximum capacity.

This is because there needs to be space for the many participants to enjoy themselves on the walk and relay route and in the many tents.

Because even though it’s nice to run faster than your boss before meeting your colleagues in the tent, it’s the fun and atmosphere that have made the DHL Relay Race Copenhagen the world’s largest exercise event of its kind.

This is also the case for Tryg Denmark, which is experiencing increasing internal support for the relay race again this year.

“For us at Tryg, the DHL Relay Race is not just a fun run – it’s a celebration of community. It’s where we get the opportunity to meet across departments, national borders and roles and get to know each other in a new way. The positive energy and fun moments in Fælledparken live on long after we have packed up the tent – we can feel it in our everyday lives, in the canteen and in our cross-departmental collaboration.

This year, we are especially happy to have 100 Swedish colleagues crossing the Øresund to be part of the experience. It shows that the DHL Relay Race has become a tradition we all look forward to,” says Mads Nyvold Bojsen-Møller, HR Director at Tryg Denmark.

Community spirit is the biggest draw
According to a questionnaire survey among participants, it is not just the performance on the running route, but the fun, camaraderie and atmosphere that make the relay so popular.

‘Many come for the first time to walk or run the 5 km. But we know that the reason they come back – and bring even more colleagues with them – is the festive community. We have had the pleasure of creating the framework for this for 44 years,’ says Lars Nissen, Event Manager at Sparta Athletics & Running.

However, Sparta Athletics & Running also recognises that the community around exercise and movement with colleagues can encourage a healthier lifestyle for many who did not previously wear their running shoes so often.

“The relay race may well be the experience that inspires and encourages even those who have never considered themselves runners to embrace the positive energy associated with running and community. We can also see this in the strong influx of people from all segments of the fitness community who end up running 10 km, a half marathon or maybe even a marathon after starting out with their colleagues in Fælledparken,” says Lars Nissen.

This year, around 2,800 companies are participating. The popular walk distance attracts around 54,000 participants this year, while around 106,000 people choose the running route.

Event with responsibility
For Sparta Athletics & Running, the DHL Relay is not only about bringing people together, but also about taking care of the environment. For the third year in a row, an extensive waste sorting system is being rolled out in Fælledparken. At 30 manned Recycling Spots throughout the park, participants can easily sort waste into several fractions.

This year, the iconic lunch box that comes with the team booking has been updated to a delicious snack box. The sweet and savoury contents of the updated snack box can be enjoyed straight from the box and do not need to be refrigerated. This reduces food waste and energy consumption.

Facts

• This year marks the 44th edition of the DHL Stafetten Copenhagen relay race.
• Sparta Athletics & Running organised the relay race in Copenhagen for the first time in 1981 with approximately 700 participants. When the transport and logistics company DHL became the main sponsor in 1991, the race was renamed the DHL Stafetten Copenhagen.
• The DHL Stafetten Copenhagen is open to anyone who can put together a team of five people for either a running or walking team. The distance is 5 km for each participant.
• The DHL Stafetten Copenhagen is the only and one of the largest exercise events of its kind in the world, celebrating the short distance between employees and managers that is unique to Denmark.
• The DHL Stafetten Copenhagen will be held in Fælledparken from Monday to Friday, 25-29 August 2025, by Sparta Athletic & Running, a non-profit sports association.
• The proceeds will go towards Sparta’s work to develop the relay and running events and ensure good conditions for children, young people and elite athletes who participate in running and athletics in the association.