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Greek hosts aim high for 34th Athens Classic "Authentic" Marathon

Xinhua, October 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Greek organizers of the Athens Classic Marathon the Authentic aim higher and higher, hoping to break more records during its 34th edition on November 13, they told a news briefing in Greece's capital on Tuesday.

The 34th "Athens Marathon, the Authentic" marks 120 years from the first contemporary Marathon race held during the 1896 Athens Olympics.

The Greek hosts are planning to celebrate the anniversary by attracting more runners for the course and spectators at the finish line at the Panathinaic Stadium.

A first goal has already been achieved, Greek Athletics Federation (SEGAS) officials said. More than 50,000 runners from across the world have registered for the classic 42 kilometer course and shorter road races, breaking the record participation of previous years, they announced.

A new race record by the athletes, who will follow the footsteps of Pheidippides, the legendary Athenian messenger who first run the distance from the Marathon battlefield to Athens 25 centuries ago to announce the victory against the Persians and died of exhaustion, would be also most welcome.

With or without new records, the Greek officials urged Greeks and citizens of the world to seize the opportunity and enjoy the unique experience of participating in the event at the birthplace of the Marathon race.

"Athens has of course the exclusive privilege of organizing the only race taking place along the historic route from Marathon to the city center and the Panathenaic Stadium. It is the classic route that draws its origin from the antiquity and carries the timeless messages of peace, sportsmanship, stamina and solidarity," Yorgos Kaminis, Mayor of the City of Athens, said during the press conference hosted at the Athens City Hall.

On the government's part, Deputy Minister of Sports Stavros Kontonis welcomed the major sports and culture event as a great opportunity to promote the best image of Greece.

The Greek official noted that in the difficult times the country experiences in recent years, sports for the masses is a proven way to ease pressure and give hope and pledged that the state will invest more in the maintenance of stadiums.

Spyros Capralos, the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, revealed one of the great surprises awaiting spectators on November 13.

"We will have the pleasure and the honor to honor some other protagonists who two months ago in Rio achieved great successes for our country. As you can understand I am referring to the Greek Olympic Team," he said.

The athletes will march inside the Panathinaic stadium shortly before the first runner reaches the finish line.

"Athens Marathon the Authentic is a unique celebration of culture and sports. As you know for the Greek people the Marathon run is not only a sporting event, a competition of 42,195 meters. Much more than that for the Greek people the Marathon run is a bridge which connects the legend and the history," SEGAS President Kostas Panagopoulos told Xinhua.

"SEGAS, the Hellenic Athletics Federation, is trying to do anything needed in order to improve and upgrade the race year after year. And we are more than happy that within those efforts Athens Marathon is a place, an event where people from all over the world come," he said, focusing on the increasing presence of Chinese runners in recent years.

"From China, especially in the last years, the number of the Chinese runners has been increased incredibly. I believe that more than 400 will be participating this year," he noted.

Until four years ago only about a dozen Chinese participated each year on average. According to SEGAS in 2015 the 43 percent of participants in the Athens Marathon arrived to Greece from 100 countries.

"What we need to do, our goal, is to make the Athens Marathon the most important celebration of culture and sports all over the world," Panagopoulos stressed.

The Mayor of the City of Marathon Ilias Psinakis also highlighted the increased Chinese presence in the event this year.

On November 11, at Zappeion Exhibition hall, opposite to the Panathinaic stadium will be hosted a first major Sino-Greek forum aiming to bring the two countries and people closer in many fields, ranging from financial cooperation to tourism, culture and sports.

The more than 100 Chinese mayors, regional governors and businessmen who will attend the forum will be invited to join the celebration of the 34th Athens Classic "Authentic" Marathon race. Endit