Copenhagen Half ends bib transfers, raising concern over empty places

The Copenhagen Half has ended ticket resale and transfers, a decision that has left some runners questioning whether unused places could go to waste, DR reports.

More than 188,000 people entered a lottery for the chance to buy one of 45,000 places in next September’s race in Copenhagen. Jacob Holmhave, from Hvidovre, was not selected and says runners who are injured before the event will now be unable to pass their place to someone else.

Holmhave had hoped the organiser, Sparta Atletik & Løb, would provide a resale platform. He says a controlled system could also prevent tickets being sold on the black market at inflated prices.

Sparta said it understands runners’ disappointment but has chosen to align the terms for the Copenhagen Marathon and Copenhagen Half with practices used by international race series. It has introduced an optional insurance policy that can reimburse runners who, for example, become ill.

The organiser said runners had previously been frustrated when they could not sell their race numbers close to event day. It expects some participants will not attend and said it uses calculations and exchanges with international colleagues to plan participant numbers and flow, while maintaining safety and the participant experience.

Runners who missed out in the lottery can try to secure a place through an athletics or running club affiliated with Danish Athletics, run for a charity through Realbuzz, or check with travel agencies, Sparta said.