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Hereby proclaiming April 21, 2019 “Penn Relay Carnival Day” in honor of its 125th Anniversary.
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WHEREAS, The Penn Relay Carnival, is the oldest and largest track and field event hosted every year by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field since the event started on April 21, 1895; and
WHEREAS, The University of Pennsylvania, located in University City, West Philadelphia, is the nation’s first university,which was officially founded in 1740, and currently boasts over 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students; and
WHEREAS, The Penn Relay Carnival attracts more than 15,000 high school and college athlete participants locally, nationally and globally, that compete in over 300 events over the course of five days; and
WHEREAS, The Penn Relay Carnival has attracted elite runners such as Usain Bolt, Shelley Ann Fraser and Alfred Kirwa Yego; and
WHEREAS, The Penn Relay Carnival brings more than 100,000 spectators from around the United States and the World each year to the City of Philadelphia to partake in the festivities of the event; and
WHEREAS, The Penn Relay Carnival has been credited with popularizing the concept of relay racing under the expert leadership of Penn Relay Directors Frank Ellis, George Washington Orton, H. Jamison Swarts, Ken Doherty, Jim Tuppeny, Tim Baker, and Dave Johnson; and
WHEREAS, The Penn Relay Carnival has been held on the last week of April every year since 1895. This year will mark the 125th Anniversary of the event which has been a staple in the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, This Council is proud of the legacy and recognition that the Penn Relay Carnival has brought to Philadelphia and recognizes and honors the millions of officials, staff, volunteers and athletes who have participated from around the world since the inception of the event in 1895; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED THAT THE PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL, Hereby proclaims April 21, 2019 “Penn Relay Carnival Day” in honor of its 125th Anniversary.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania in honor of the Penn Relay Carnival.
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