Following its third running of the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge, Buenos Aires has sent a clear, data-reinforced message: We’re here to stay!

A crowd of 5,754 entrants from 146 Argentinian companies competed in the after-work run/walk at Vicente López, a 31% increase in entries from 2023 (4,385) and a massive 165% increase from the Buenos Aires debut year of 2022.

This is not a typical growth surge. Of the current 16 locations in the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series, only six achieved entries of 5,000 or more by their third year. And of those six, five have grown into events that annually attract well over 10,000 entries.

So, the future is bright for Buenos Aires.

The largest company in the impressive crowd was event owner and operator J.P. Morgan with 2,206 entrants. They were followed in the top 10 by Raizen (120 entrants), PwC (107), Roemmers (100), Exxon Mobil (89), Banco Galicia (84), Metrogas (80), PCR (72), ICBC Argentina (66), and ZS Associates (65).

“The Corporate Challenge is very meaningful to us in Buenos Aires,” said Facundo Gómez Minujín, Senior Country Officer for J.P. Morgan Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. “We were the first Corporate Challenge in South America and take great pride in that. Our commitment to the event is illustrated by the thousands of employees we had on the starting line and our attention to every detail in executing a world-class road race. Our long-term promise to our clients and everyone in the Buenos Aires business community is to provide a one-of-a-kind after-work event that is both valuable and memorable.”

To further illustrate the bullish long-term future of this Corporate Challenge, Buenos Aires had the largest number of J.P. Morgan employees in a 2024 event to date, topping New York (2,074 employees) and London (1,998), two locations that have been in operation for decades.

Assurant, a global provider of risk management products, was thrilled to be introduced to the Corporate Challenge.

“It's the first time Assurant has participated in the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge, so when I knew that we were going to take part I felt super excited!” said Camila Perez Ernst, team co-captain for Assurant. “Not only because I love running but also because I always said that work is more than going to the office and then going back home. And that is what the Corporate Challenge brings to Assurant. Sharing time with co-workers outside of the office, bonding with other groups and being part of this experience demonstrates Assurant's core values.”

Blue Star Group (BSG), the leading Argentine company in the design and production of lifestyle items, was keen to participate in the Corporate Challenge because it provided the opportunity for its employees to thrive outside of the office.

“At Blue Star Group, we deeply value the well-being of each person on our team, both personally and professionally,” said Giannina Zambaglione, People & Culture Manager, Blue Star Group. “We love to create a culture where balance and care are promoted, and we believe the race is a great way to live those values together. It's not only a sporting challenge, but an opportunity to strengthen our team spirit and connect from another place.”

Another attractive element for Blue Star Group, was the beneficiary component. J.P. Morgan donated in celebration of all participants to Casa Cuna, the nonprofit that serves as a bridge between Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizade and the community. Casa Cuna’s mission is to address healthcare needs and provide comprehensive support for the hospital’s activities, as well as offering social assistance to patients and their families who receive care at the institution.

“Activities like this inspire us, fill us with energy and remind us of the importance of taking care of ourselves and each other,” Zambaglione continued. “We know that this race has a social purpose, and at BSG we are committed to supporting causes that generate a positive impact on the community. We are especially motivated to be able to contribute in this way, adding our effort and energy to initiatives that really make a difference.”

Superior effort was provided by the individual winners in the 3.5-mile (5.6km) road race --  Nicolas Alejandro Espinosa Coelho and Mercedes Piredda.

Espinosa Coelho, representing FUSAP, earned the male individual title, breaking the finish line tape in 18:14 (5:13 mile pace). Piredda, running for Cervecería y Maltería Quilmes S.A.I.C.A. y G., earned the female title in 21:24 (6:07 mile pace). It was the first individual Corporate Challenge for either runner and both also boasted the fastest time for their respective divisions in Buenos Aires’ three-year history.

The 2024 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series is now at 217,966 total participants after visits to 14 different locations (an average of 15,569 participants per event). There are two remaining stops – November 14 in Shanghai, and Hong Kong on November 21. This is the 48^th continuous year of operation for the Series, which began with one event in 1977 with 200 total participants in New York City.