A group of young footballers can now look forward to their Easter training camp in Mallorca – thanks to their own and their parents’ efforts as volunteers at the  DHL Relay Copenhagen, held in Fælledparken from Monday to Friday this week.

This year’s relay was the biggest to date, with 160,000 participants running, walking and enjoying five days of sport and socialising in the park.

Organising an event on this scale is a huge logistical challenge. Each evening Sparta Athletics & Running, who stage the event, rely on around 350 volunteers – the highest number ever – and the interest in volunteering at Sparta’s events continues to grow.

Most volunteers come from other sports clubs in Greater Copenhagen, helping with everything from stewarding and water stations to bars and waste management.

One such club is Hovedstadens Svømmeklub (HSK), which has been involved for over a decade. They provide 27 people each evening to staff the bars.

“We have a great time together, and it’s a rare chance for parents to meet across different teams, as training is usually spread across several pools. The work is well organised, good fun and builds real team spirit,” says Lars Møller from HSK.

“The money we earn through volunteering at Sparta’s events goes straight back into covering the cost of activities, competitions and trips for our members.”

HSK also support Sparta’s other major events, including the Copenhagen Marathon, Copenhagen Half Marathon and Royal Run.

Newcomers Benefit Too

While HSK are seasoned helpers, AC Amager Academy is one of the new clubs on board. Each evening between 30 and 50 of their volunteers man the recycling stations, helping thousands of participants to sort their waste correctly to ensure maximum reuse.

“We’ve got a team heading to a tournament in Mallorca this Easter. It’s an expensive trip, but by volunteering here – and at Copenhagen Half Marathon in a couple of weeks – we can make it happen,” says club contact Betina Olsen.

“It’s been a really positive experience. People have been friendly and willing to sort their waste properly, so we’d be happy to come back again.”

The Unsung Heroes of the Relay

For Sparta Athletics & Running, there is no doubt about the importance of volunteers.

“The volunteers are truly the heroes of DHL Relay. It’s a complex event, and they play a vital role in making it happen. We value our partnerships with clubs enormously and are delighted to see how the funds help their young members,” says Head of Events, Lars Nissen.

Sparta, which also organises the Copenhagen Marathon in May and Copenhagen Half Marathon in September, channels around DKK 3 million back into local clubs each year through its volunteer partnerships.

DHL Relay Copenhagen – Facts and Figures

• 44th edition held in 2025
• Around 32,000 participants each evening in Fælledparken
• 54,000 walkers over the week (34% of all participants)
• 350 volunteers in action every night
• Around 2,800 companies, large and small, took part

About DHL Relay Copenhagen
First staged in 1981 with around 700 runners, the event took its current name in 1991 when DHL became title sponsor. This year was the 44th edition.

The relay is open to everyone who can field a team of five, whether running or walking. Each participant covers 5 km.

It is the largest event of its kind in the world and celebrates the uniquely Danish tradition of close ties between colleagues and managers.

More at: https://dhlstafettenkbh.dk/

DHL Relay Copenhagen 2025 took place in Fælledparken from 25–29 August, organised by Sparta Athletics & Running, a non-profit sports club. All proceeds go towards developing Sparta’s running events and supporting opportunities for children, young people and adults in athletics.