Dear SOP,
It is with deep sadness that we write to you today to share some difficult news. After much reflection and internal discussions, we have been compelled to file for bankruptcy before the Neufchateau Tribunal. This difficult decision stems from our inability to cover the project’s maintenance costs and organize an event of such magnitude with so few participants.
This decision is even more painful given the circumstances that brought us to this point. Let us briefly recount the events that marked our journey from the beginning. In November 2019, two months before our very first Battle of the Ardennes edition, our investors informed us that they were withdrawing from the agreement to support us for the first five races. This was a significant blow because with this news, the company we had contracted for event management also withdrew due to fear of non-payment. We (five individuals), with no prior experience in the event world, had to do everything ourselves, from managing the course ranging from 5KM to 25KM, marking the route, setting up the base camp, handling logistics with obstacles, penalty weights, and more.
On January 5, 2020, with great hope and excitement, we launched the first edition of the Battle of the Ardennes with great success, drawing 1400 participants. We had already secured agreements with Ypres, Arromanches-les-Bains, Nieuport, Arnhem, and others for upcoming races. Unfortunately, the global COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world, disrupting our lives and posing enormous challenges for all sectors, including ours. No entries because no events took place, but the costs associated with our startup were still present. Despite these unexpected circumstances, we managed to organize the Battle of Arnhem event with only 300 participants, although the number was not as high as expected. However, we wanted to proceed to improve our skills. As you all know, our minimum threshold for organizing such an event is a minimum of 600 participants. This edition was not easy to implement either because the day before the race, the city informed us that we could not cross the river as originally planned. Therefore, we were forced to make last-minute changes to a significant part of the course and its organization.
Then, no events until 2022, but a new unexpected surprise. Customs deemed our KAMOS to have a purchase value of €50, while we were selling them for €55. We tried to demonstrate that no company would buy a product for €50 and sell it for €55, but to no avail. We were forced to pay a sum of €21,000 to retrieve our KAMOS. The team decided to take out a new loan to achieve this and keep the project alive. The second edition of the Battle of the Ardennes in 2022 had 970 participants, a decrease of 29%. The financial outcome was still not favorable given the investments made. The day before the race, our markings were vandalized, and our vests had still not arrived due to a logistical issue in the Netherlands warehouse. All these problems had to be managed by our small team. Then, in September 2022, the second edition of the Battle of Arnhem had only 500 participants. We had hoped that things would improve, but we faced new obstacles and uncertainties related to the pandemic. Despite all our efforts to adapt our plans and ensure the safety of all participants, the third edition of the Battle of the Ardennes was also marked by reduced participation, with only 650 participants, a 46% decrease compared to the first edition.
This year, we had placed all our hopes in the first edition of the Battle of Ypres, with high expectations and the desire to make this event memorable. Unfortunately, we had to confront an inevitable reality. The number of registered participants for the Ypres event remained well below our expectations and the financial requirements to keep it afloat. Despite our tireless efforts to promote the event, the number of 199 participants made it impossible to continue our project. You may wonder why a company can no longer continue if the financial statement does not allow it. The reason is simple: to organize an event of such magnitude, we must consider many factors, such as course and site management, setting up necessary infrastructure, participant safety, logistics, staffing, communication, rewards, and for us, managing the KAMOS and penalty weights, among many other aspects. All of these elements have a financial cost that must be covered by event revenues, including participant registration fees and sponsor partnerships. Unfortunately, when the number of participants is too low, the generated revenues are not sufficient to cover the incurred expenses, resulting in insurmountable financial difficulties.
We understand that this news may be devastating for you, and we want to express our deep gratitude for your unwavering support and loyalty throughout this journey. We have experienced unforgettable moments together, pushing our limits, strengthening our sense of community, and celebrating honor and self-improvement. You have been an essential part of this community, a pillar on which we could rely. As we conclude this letter, we wish to express our profound gratitude to all those who supported our project with unwavering passion and unwavering dedication. You know who you are and what you have done for us. Your support has inspired us and given us the strength to face the challenges we encountered. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your time, support, unwavering presence, constant encouragement, and belief in our mission.
We are deeply saddened that we cannot continue this beautiful project aimed at honoring and commemorating the battles of the two world wars, events that shaped the world we know today. However, we want to remind you all that despite the current circumstances, it is our duty to never forget the sacrifices made by these men and women and to continue to perpetuate their memory. Their courageous actions contributed to preserving our freedom and peace. We encourage all of you to keep this history alive and share it with future generations so that the lessons of the past are never forgotten. We want to thank all our SOP from the bottom of our hearts for your unwavering support, enthusiasm, and passion throughout this adventure. Your presence has been a true driving force for us, and we are grateful to have shared these unique moments with you. It is with a mix of sadness and gratitude that we turn this page in our history.
We have sought solutions for all individuals still holding a ticket (Battle of Ypres) or an active voucher. We are pleased to announce that your tickets or vouchers will be valid for the following partner OCR events in 2024:
Ultimate Warrior, Roermond, Netherlands (2 editions will be proposed in 2024: Dates and locations will be confirmed by the organizer)
How? You can contact the organizer of your chosen event. They have the list of people and can prepare an invitation for you.
Take care of yourselves and those around you.
The War-Race Team,
Note: The website www.war-race.com, Facebook and Instagram pages, chats/emails will no longer be monitored from this day forward.
