SIGNATURE EVENT: KO’KO’ ROAD RACE WEEKEND NEARS

By Patrick Lujan

The Guam Visitors Bureau’s signature running event – the Guam Ko’ko Road Race – will come back to life for the first time since 2017 next weekend – April 15-16 at the Ypao Beach Park.

GVB President Carl Gutierrez said during Wednesday’s press conference held at Three Squares Restaurant that “It was incumbent upon us to bring this back as a signature event.”

Ko’ko’ Weekend will kick off on Saturday with the 14th Annual Guam Ko’ko’ Kids Fun Run that starts and ends within the Ypao Beach Park and takes the kids along the beach itself. Three divisions are set starting at 6:30 am.

The 10k race is slated for Sunday morning at 6 am starting in front of the GVB building. The route will go up toward the old GMH circle and head straight down to Marine Corps. Drive, south to the Mobil gas station in East Agana and head back the same way.

According to race coordinator Manny Hechanova from the Guam Running Club, almost 800 runners combined have already signed up on-line with anticipation of that number doubling, if not more, come race days.

KO’KO’ BIRD

A live Ko’ko bird was present at the press conference, courtesy of the Department of Agriculture. Anthony Tornito from DoAg said that Suete’ – the bird at the conference – is one of 78 ko’ko’ birds at the Department with initiatives to keep growing the population.

With that, GVB introduced its newest mascots: Kiko and Kika the Ko’ko’ Birds.

“We’re redefining Guam’s branding,” GVB Vice President Gerry Perez said. “The ko’ko’ bird is part of our natural heritage. We are using the bird as an educational tool, making it the signature name for the road race.”

SPORTS TOURISM

As GVB ventures back into its signature running event, GVB President Gutierrez said that sports tourism is “at the top of our list at GVB.”

Gutierrez mentioned that in the three years he’s been at the helm of GVB, the bureau has helped out individual athletes representing Guam as well as events such as jiu-jitsu and an upcoming karate event and is eyeing more to attract through sports tourism.