One of Denmark’s longest-running sports partnerships continues. For 35 years, DHL and Sparta have worked closely together on the annual corporate relay race in Fælledparken, and now the parties have agreed to extend the partnership so it will reach its 40th anniversary.

The collaboration began in 1991, and since then DHL has been the title sponsor and a close partner of Sparta on DHL Relay Copenhagen.

Over the 45 years since the first starting gun in 1981, the event has grown into one of the world’s largest mass participation fitness events. For the past 35 years, this has been with DHL as a close partner and title sponsor.

Partnership in practice
“We are proud to be part of and to lend our name to the iconic DHL Relay Copenhagen. Not least, we are proud of how our partnership with Sparta has developed since 1991. We have a close collaboration where, for example, we deliver race bibs to participants via DHL couriers. For us, it is important that it is not just about visibility, but that we actively contribute as a partner. Our daily work with shipments is, in many ways, similar to a relay – we receive something and safely pass it on for our customers,” says Susanne Kristensen, Marketing Manager, DHL Express Denmark, about the partnership, which now continues until 2031.

At Sparta, there is equal enthusiasm for the extension.

“DHL Relay Copenhagen requires world-class logistics! Thousands of relay runners must smoothly hand over batons to each other every evening for an entire week. We distribute snack boxes to all teams, and all participants must receive their race bibs. Therefore, it is only natural that DHL- an expert in logistics – is our partner. We have had an exceptionally strong collaboration for 35 years, based on trust, dialogue, and shared ambitions to create a fitness event that includes the entire workplace. It is fantastic to see where it has taken us, and we look forward to continuing the development of the event together with DHL,” says Sparta’s Commercial Director, Jesper Lind Andersson.

Five more years of ambition
With the extension, both parties now look ahead to the next five years.

“We look forward to the next five years and to further developing an event that fosters community and health across Danish workplaces. ‘Great is in the detail’ applies here as well. Together, we continuously work on fine-tuning the participant experience,” concludes Susanne Kristensen, Marketing Manager, DHL Express Denmark.

There will also continue to be a strong focus on responsibility, including comprehensive waste sorting in Fælledparken, which has set new industry standards in recent years.

DHL Relay Copenhagen in numbers
From a modest beginning in 1981 with 670 participants in Fælledparken, DHL Relay Copenhagen has become a tradition for thousands of Danish workplaces.

Last year, a total of 160,000 participants took part in the 5 km relay race or walk in Fælledparken, reaching full capacity.

The next DHL Relay Copenhagen will take place from August 24–28, 2026.