OMO Extends Comrades Marathon Partnership, Championing Green Number Legends

Gerda Steyn, Image: courtesy of Comrades Marathon Association

The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) and Unilever’s leading laundry brand, OMO, are proud to announce the renewal of their partnership for a further three years, extending OMO's role as the Official Laundry Detergent Supplier to the event through to the 2028 race. This three-year cycle will include the historic 100th edition of the Comrades Marathon in 2027.

While OMO will continue to support the field of 21,633 runners, the renewed sponsorship commitment places a special focus on the Green Number Club, whose members have completed the ultramarathon 10 times or more, won the race three times, or earned five gold medals. Membership of this select club is considered a huge prestige in the running community, and members enjoy several benefits, including an early entry window before general entries go on sale.

“OMO is a brand that celebrates the grit and resilience it takes to #StayUnbeatable in pursuit of a goal, and nobody embodies this spirit more than the Green Number Club runners,” says Elizabeth Mokwena, Unilever South Africa's Executive Marketing Director: HomeCare. “By renewing our commitment to the Comrades Marathon for three more years, we are not just sponsoring a race, we are honouring the legends who return year after year to push the limits of human endurance.”

HONOURING ENDURANCE & DEDICATIONAs part of its #StayUnbeatable campaign, a movement that inspires runners to push through to the finish of The Ultimate Human Race, OMO will once again position the OMO Stay Unbeatable Arch on the Comrades Marathon Route at its refreshment station and vibe zone. This year, that will be at the 70km mark, near the Raptor Rescue turnoff, offering a powerful moment of motivation as the distance really makes itself felt in runners’ legs.

Omo will also introduce enhanced activations specifically for Green Number runners, to celebrate their unbeatable spirit:

• Exclusive Green Number Hospitality: The recovery zone at the finish line for Green Number Club members to relax with fellow Green Numbers and celebrate milestones and race experiences.

• ‘Unbeatable’ Milestone Recognition: Special OMO-branded finisher towels for runners reaching new tiers – those achieving Green Number status with their 10^th finish, as well as Double Green (20 finishes), Triple Green (30 finishes), and the rare Quadruple Green Number status for 40 finishes. (To date, after 98 editions of the race, just 20 runners have achieved Quadruple Green Numbers.)

  
  

CMA General Manager Alain Dalais welcomes the news of OMO’s renewal: “We are thrilled to have OMO sign up for another three years and continue this journey together, as their #StayUnbeatable campaign aligns perfectly with the ethos of the Comrades Marathon as well as our 2026 race campaign, Ska Fela Moya, which is Setswana for Don’t Give Up. In particular, OMO’s focus on our Green Number Club members is welcomed, as one of our core focus areas is to honour the dedication and perseverance of our most loyal athletes. We look forward to the Green Number runners enjoying this special treatment.”