The 35th “Athens Marathon. The Authentic” will be held today, Sunday 12th of November 2017, by the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS).
The Athens Marathon, an event with 121 years of history, has managed to increase participation from 4,000 runners in 2005 to more than 40,000 in 2016. This year runners from over 10 different countries will participate.
The Athens Marathon is enhanced by the willingness of 3,000 volunteers and is supported by many from the public and private sector.
The 35th Annual “Athens Marathon. The Authentic” will mark 121 years from the first contemporary Marathon race- an athletic event inspired by the ancient course of the legendary Athenian soldier hemerodromos (courier in Ancient Greece who would run for a day) after the Battle of Marathon.
In 1896, during the first modern Olympics, athletes from five countries lined up at the starting line on the bridge of Marathon in order to cover the distance to the Panathenaic Stadium on a dirt path.
The Athens Marathon is the only race conducted along the original course from Marathon to Athens, and the Panathenaic Stadium remains an emblematic event for all longdistance runners.
The Athens Marathon was recently awarded with the very important prize “Event of the Year” Award and this recognition showcases the dynamic of the Athens Marathon not only within the sports community but to an even larger group of people who evaluate and award the impressive outcome of a collective effort of various people.
This year, SEGAS is expecting more than 50,000 participants of all ages to take part in the country’s largest annual sporting event.
For more information check out-
athensauthenticmarathon.gr/index.php?lang=en
