TO
REGISTER FOR CMWC 2008 TORONTO: registration@cmwc2008.com Registration:
Before March
15
2008: $75 CAD After March 15 2008: $100 CAD
Championship
History
1993
Berlin, Germany
1994 London, England
1995 Toronto, Canada
1996 San Francisco, USA
1997 Barcelona, Spain
1998 Washington DC, USA
1999 Zurich,
Switzerland
2000 Philadelphia,
USA
2001 Budapest, Hungary
2002 Copenhagen, Denmark
2003 Seattle, USA
2004 Edmonton, Canada
2005 New York, USA
2006 Sydney, Australia
2007 Dublin, Ireland
2008 Toronto, Canada
Help Bring Zimbabwe's
SplashGirls
to CMWC 2008
The Toronto Bike Messenger
Association (TOBMA) and the Cycle Messenger World Championships XVIare seeking sponsors to help bring Zimbabwean
messengers, Faith Mkwananzi and Resistance Mhlanga to the 16th annual
Cycle Messenger World Championships in Toronto, Canada, June 13 – 16,
2008.
The TOBMA is an affiliated member of the International Federation of
Bike Messenger Associations (IFBMA). The mission of the IFBMA is to
ensure the successful realization of an annual Cycle Messenger World
Championships (CMWC); to foster a spirit of cooperation and community
amongst bicycle messengers worldwide; and to promote the use of pedal
power for commercial purposes.
CMWC has been bringing the worldwide community together since 1993 but
for some regions of the global community CMWC attendance is
economically impossible. The Toronto Bike Messenger Association (TOBMA)
and CMWC XVI are determined to turn an impossible dream into a
triumphant reality for at least two members of Zimbabwe’s Splashgirls.
The Splashgirls is the
all-female bike messenger enterprise located in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe that
provides employment for orphans who are responsible for the support of
their families. Due to Zimbabwe’s severe economic crisis the
Splashgirls project is currently on hiatus but as messengers say once a
messenger always a messenger and once a Splashgirl always a Splashgirl.
The Splashgirls’ role as ambassadors of the Zimbabwean messenger
community is highlighted by their well documented trip to Zurich,
Switzerland. Both Faith and Resistance served an internship through the
Swiss Connect network of messenger companies and they helped deliver a
message from AIDS orphans to the Mayor of Zurich, Elmar Ledergerber.
The Splashgirls project was
sponsored by Salvation Army, the Swiss children's charity, Terre des
Hommes, Swiss Connect and Credit Suisse.
The Cycle Messenger World Championships (CMWC) are the ultimate urban
cycling competition. The strongest, smartest and fastest bike
messengers from across the planet converge once a year to determine who
is the best in a variety of events that test riders’ physical and
mental limits. It is a fully insured competition on a closed course
that is sanctioned by the International Federation of Bike Messengers
Associations (IFBMA).
The CMWC’s originated in Berlin, Germany in 1993 and have been held
annually all over the world. The world championships have traveled to a
diverse group of cities that include London (1994), Toronto (1995), San
Francisco (1996), Barcelona (1997), Washington DC (1998), Zurich
(1999), Philadelphia (2000), Budapest (2001), Copenhagen (2002),
Seattle (2003), Edmonton (2004), New York (2005), Sydney (2006) and
Dublin (2007). CMWC 2008 in Toronto marks the first time a city
will repeat as host. The 2009 world championships are scheduled to take
place in Tokyo , Japan.
CMWC is a world championship sporting event but it is also a world
festival celebrating messenger culture and its broad influence on
modern urban culture. The championships host a variety of related
galas, shows, parties and vendor markets where spectators mingle with
messengers to get a jump on the latest bike trends and urban
utilitarian fashion. The side events showcase the artistic,
photographic, musical and literary talents of the world’s hardest
working professional athletes.
The 16th annual Cycle Messenger World Championships is an official City
of Toronto Bike Week Event and the City of Toronto is a major partner
in the success of the Championships.
CMWC
2005 group photo sending a message to the Splashgirls - Photo
courtesy of Amy Bolger
