Totalsports extends Two Oceans Marathon sponsorship

The long-standing partnership between the organisers of the Two Oceans Marathon and their title sponsor, Totalsports, continues to flourish, defying an era in which many road-running and sporting events struggle to secure financial backing. Sport sponsorship expert Lesa Ukman said sustaining a strong partnership requires “moving beyond simple brand exposure to creating genuine value-add for consumers, focusing on measuring outcomes [like sales, awareness, social impact], not just outputs, and treating sponsorship as a strategic, multi-channel approach that builds authentic connections and drives real business and social progress, not just a marketing channel. “It requires deep community engagement, data-driven insights, innovation and perseverance.” Totalsports officially joined the event in February 2022, becoming the financial backbone of the “World’s Most Beautiful Marathon”.

The first race under the new title sponsorship took place that Easter weekend, marking the event’s return after a two-year hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. This week, following four successful years as title sponsor, Totalsports — South Africa’s largest sporting goods retail brand — confirmed it has renewed its commitment to the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon (TTOM) for a further five years. “Totalsports’ decision to extend their title sponsorship for another five years is a powerful endorsement of the direction in which the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon is heading,” said Chris Goldschmidt, chairperson of the Two Oceans Marathon NPC.

This renewed commitment allows us to plan boldly, invest meaningfully, and continue growing an event that inspires thousands of runners each year. “Their support strengthens every facet of the race — from elite competition to community upliftment.” General manager of the Totalsports Two Oceans Marathon Wade Bromfield said the extension will enrich the runner experience and elevate the event even further. “This unprecedented five-year commitment demonstrates Totalsports’ belief in the event, the team, the runners and the sport itself.