2010 ATHENS CLASSIC MARATHON – “RUN … IF YOU ACTUALLY WISH TO RUN IT” - on October 31st, 2010 and the celebration of the 2,500 years anniversary from the Marathon Battle in 490BC.
This logo was adopted by AIMS (International Association of Distance Running) and all Marathon races to be held within the year 2010 all around the world.
The Chairman of the Athens Classic Marathon Organizing Committee, Mr Kostas Panagopoulos (r.) and the President of the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), Mr Vassilis Sevastis. ©SEGAS
This is the message that concluded the today’s Press Conference given by the President of SEGAS (Hellenic Athletics Federation), Mr Vassilis Sevastis, and Mr Kostas Panagopoulos, Chairman of the Athens Classic Marathon Organizing Committee regarding the 2010 Athens Classic Marathon to be held on October 31st, 2010 and the celebration of the 2,500 years anniversary from the Marathon Battle in 490BC.
The message “Run … If you actually wish to run it” is addressed to all runners who are interested in participating in this year’s event, urging them to submit their registration in time, as taken under consideration the intense interest shown by runners all around the world to run in Athens this year, the Athens Classic Marathon Organizing Committee decided to establish certain participation limits for all road races.
Registrations will be made on a priority base, while the relevant participation limits per road race are as follows:
Marathon Race (including Power Walking) – 12,000 runners
10km Road Race – 4,500 runners
5km Road Race – 3,500 runners
“The new website of the Athens Classic Marathon event will be launched on Wednesday March 10, 2010 and the 2010 registration period will open at the same time. Over the last months we witnessed the great interest shown for this year’s event mainly from abroad. Here is the time and the countdown has begun.
This year’s event seems to have unprecedented characteristics as to participation. Our main concern for this year is to complete registrations as soon as possible so that we proceed with our planning in a way that the event is run smoothly and without any kind of problems for the runners”, stated the President of the Hellenic Athletics Federation, Mr Vassilis Sevastis.
Addressing the Greek runners, the President of the Federation stated: “All Greeks should register now”, explaining that it is important for the Greek runners to submit their registrations now as this will not be possible in autumn.
Mr Sevastis presented also the main characteristics of the 2010 Athens Classic Marathon event. Honoring the 2,500 years anniversary from the Marathon Battle, SEGAS created and entrenched a special logo which depicts the legendary soldier-runner and comprises all symbolisms that the Marathon race bears.
This logo was adopted by AIMS (International Association of Distance Running) and all Marathon races to be held within the year 2010 all around the world.
Furthermore, SEGAS and AIMS proceeded with the creation and production of a commemorative medal with the specific 2010 logo to be sold all around the world at the price of 10 Euros. Out of this money, 0.50 Euros per medal will be donated to an international charity organization.
On the occasion of the 2,500 years anniversary from the Marathon Battle, SEGAS and the Athens Classic Marathon have undertaken the responsibility to organize the 18th AIMS World Congress to be held in Athens on 28-30 October 2010, in which representatives of more than 100 other Marathon races will participate and experience this unique atmosphere.
On Friday 29 October 2010, SEGAS will organize a special celebration event honoring this anniversary, open to everyone, while the 2010 Athens Classic Marathon EXPO will remain open three (3) instead of two (2), starting from Thursday 28 October and up to Saturday 30 October 2010.
In addition to all the above, the Athens Classic Marathon welcomes this year the World Military Marathon Championships with more than 300 participants from various countries.
Promoting the social profile of the Athens Classic Marathon event, SEGAS and the Athens Classic Marathon Organizing Committee have decided to expand the charity program of the event through certain Cooperating NGOs. It also needs to be underlined that the Athens Classic Marathon event was awarded by the IOC for its environmental initiatives during the recent Copenhagen Summit.
The Chairman of the Athens Classic Marathon Organizing Committee, Mr Kostas Panagopoulos, stated: “Registrations will begin next Wednesday and they will be available on a strictly priority basis. In order to avoid any kind of inconvenience for the runners at the finish within the Panathinaikon Stadium, we have decided to identify specific participation limits. According to my estimations, this year’s registration period will be over within one month period”. That is why all those who actually wish to participate in any of the event’s races need to submit their registration in time.
He also mentioned that the special celebration event planned for Friday 29 October 2010 will be conducted with the support of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Pavlos Geroulanos, and it will surely by an evening to remember. Closing this Press Conference, Mr Panagopoulos mentioned that the Organizing Committee aims at a new finish record to be achieved this year and there will be certain bonuses in such case.
Athens Classic Marathon 2010
