As obstacle racing prepares for its Olympic debut within Modern Pentathlon at Los Angeles 2028, we speak with Ivaylo Matev, international organiser of Legion Run, about the growth of obstacle sports, the event’s Cypriot origins and what participants can expect on 7 November.
Obstacle racing is heading to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 as part of Modern Pentathlon. As someone who has been involved in this industry for over a decade, how do you feel about this development?
It’s an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved in the obstacle sports community.
When we started Legion Run back in 2014, obstacle events were still something relatively new to many people. We believed in the concept from the very beginning, but seeing how far the industry has come is truly exciting.
Today, obstacle sports are gaining recognition at the highest international level. In Los Angeles 2028, an obstacle discipline will make its Olympic debut as part of Modern Pentathlon, replacing horse riding.
Of course, the Olympic format is different from the five-kilometre adventure we organise at Legion Run. But we share the same passion for overcoming obstacles, pushing personal boundaries and making physical activity exciting.
As part of the global OCR community, and as one of the early obstacle-event brands to gain significant international popularity, we’re extremely proud to have contributed to the growth of this movement.
And I genuinely believe this is just the beginning.
What new opportunities do you think Olympic recognition will create for obstacle sports?
I think the biggest opportunity is visibility.
Millions of people who have never experienced obstacle sports will discover them through the Olympic Games. Some will want to become competitive athletes, others will look for recreational events, and many will simply become curious enough to try something new.
That’s where events like Legion Run have an important role.
We don’t organise a competitive race. Our goal is to introduce ordinary people to the excitement of overcoming obstacles in an environment where teamwork matters more than individual performance.
You don’t need to train for months or be an elite athlete. You bring your friends, help each other and enjoy the experience.
I believe the future of obstacle sports is not only about professional athletes and medals. It’s also about encouraging more people to become physically active through experiences they genuinely enjoy.
Legion Run was created in Cyprus in 2014 and has since travelled to 12 countries across three continents. What does returning to Cyprus mean to you?
Cyprus will always be special to us because this is where our journey began.
What started here in 2014 eventually became an international adventure, taking Legion Run to 12 countries on three continents.
We’ve seen thousands of people overcome obstacles together, make new friends and experience things they never imagined they could do.
But returning to Cyprus is always different. There’s a strong emotional connection with the place where everything started.
And this year we’re particularly excited because Cyprus will host the finale of our 2026 international season.
For us, it’s a fantastic way to finish the year — coming back to our roots and sharing the experience with the Cypriot community.
You’re returning to MC Elias in Pareklisia, Limassol. Does that mean participants can expect the same course as last year?
Absolutely not! In fact, this is probably one of the biggest surprises we have prepared.
Although we’re returning to the same location, we’ve been working closely with the MC Elias team and have made significant changes to the terrain layout and the way the course is designed.
Participants will be running an entirely different route compared with last year.
We’ve also prepared several new obstacles and challenges, so even people who joined us last year will discover something new.
One of our principles is that Legion Run should never feel like exactly the same experience twice.
Every year we introduce changes, new obstacles and surprises. We want returning participants to be just as excited as those joining for the first time.
I won’t reveal everything yet, because part of the fun is discovering what’s waiting for you on the course!
Will there be changes outside the obstacle course as well?
Definitely. We’re also expanding the festival area and adding more activities and attractions.
For us, Legion Run has never been just about completing five kilometres.
We want people to spend the day together, enjoy the atmosphere, listen to music, meet friends and celebrate their achievements.
This year, we’re planning a larger festival area with more entertainment and activities for participants and visitors.
We’re also excited to have Kiss FM joining us with a special live radio presence during the event.
Our ambition is to create a full-day experience, not simply an obstacle course that people finish and immediately leave.
Legion Run has become a popular team-building activity for companies. What makes it different from traditional corporate events?
I think the secret is that people stop behaving like colleagues and start behaving like a real team.
In an office, everyone has a position, responsibilities and a job title. But when you’re standing in front of a muddy obstacle, none of that matters.
You might see a manager helping an employee climb over a wall, or someone who is usually very quiet in the office suddenly becoming the person encouraging the whole team.
These are genuine moments of teamwork. You can’t recreate them in a meeting room.
Over the years, hundreds of companies have participated in Legion Run events, including teams from internationally recognised organisations such as IBM, HP, PwC and Scorewarrior.
We’ve developed one of the largest obstacle-based corporate team-building experiences in Southeastern Europe, and the feedback we receive from employees is extraordinary.
What’s especially rewarding is hearing people say they got to know their colleagues better in one day than they had in months of working together.
And it’s not just us saying that — you can see the reactions of the participants themselves in this video:
This year’s event also supports SAGAPO Foundation. Can you tell us about that partnership?
This is something we’re particularly happy about.
We believe that events bringing thousands of people together can also create a positive impact beyond entertainment.
That’s why we’re supporting SAGAPO Foundation as our Official Charity Partner for this year’s Cyprus event.
We’ve introduced a special charity ticket initiative that allows participants to contribute to the foundation while enjoying the full Legion Run experience.
The original concept was very simple: a participant pays just five euros more than the regular ticket price, but ten euros from the charity ticket goes towards supporting SAGAPO. Legion Run contributes the additional amount.
We wanted to make it easy for people to do something positive without having to make a major additional commitment.
For us, it’s another way to show what the Legion Run community is about — people helping other people.
Some people might think Legion Run is only for very fit or athletic participants. What would you say to them?
I’d tell them that they’re probably missing the whole point!
Legion Run isn’t about being the fastest or strongest. It’s about having the courage to try something different and helping each other along the way.
Of course, there are physical challenges, but the beauty of the experience is that you don’t have to overcome them alone.
Your friends are there to help you, encourage you and sometimes laugh with you when you end up covered in mud.
Some people arrive feeling nervous because they’ve never done anything like this before. A few hours later, they’re celebrating with their team and asking when they can do it again.
That’s the transformation we love seeing.
Finally, why should someone join Legion Run Cyprus on 7 November?
Because some experiences are difficult to explain until you’ve actually lived them.
You can go to the gym any day. You can meet your friends for coffee or dinner every weekend.
But spending a day overcoming obstacles, getting muddy, laughing and celebrating together is something completely different.
And remember, Legion Run comes to Cyprus only once a year.
This year we have a completely redesigned course, new obstacles, a bigger festival area and plenty of surprises.
If you’ve participated before, come and discover how different the experience will be. If you’ve never tried it, this is your opportunity.
Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until next year.
See you in the mud!
VIDEO https://youtu.be/0-EBLTtwkl8
EVENT INFORMATION
Legion Run Cyprus 2026
Saturday, 7 November 2026
MC Elias, Pareklisia, Limassol
Tickets: https://legionrun.com/events/legion-run-cyprus-2026/
Corporate enquiries: [email protected]
Watch last year’s highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6EtqRsa7CE
