Athens News Greece Prepares to Welcome Runners for the 39th Athens Marathon by Maria Paravantes 30 September 2022 written by Maria Paravantes 30 September 2022 0 comments Share 0FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail 31 Photo source: SEGAS / Antonis Nikolopoulos, EUROKINISSI Thousands of athletes from across the globe will be participating in the 39th “Athens Marathon, the Authentic” (AMA) to take place on November 13, announced Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) President Sofia Sakorafa during a press conference at the Olympic Museum in Athens in the run-up to the major sporting event. Sakorafa confirmed that there were still very few openings left for the 5km and 10km runs and added that this year efforts had been made to extend the annual sports celebration with parallel activities across four days. “From the start a key goal was to connect sports and athletics with society. A sporting event should not begin and end with games. It should leave a mark,” she said, adding that AMA organizer SEGAS had fostered a relationship of trust with stakeholders and signed memorandums of cooperation for actions that link running with society and showcase Greece to the world. Among others, this year, the AMA will include an environmental awareness program, free transfers of runners during the four days of events, a university run to unite students from around the world, and the “Authentic Talk” – a new conference bringing together top sports figures who will share views and experiences that will highlight the values of sport. The 1st Authentic Talk will take place on November 11 at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. Also participating in the press conference were Attica Region Governor Giorgos Patoulis, Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis, Marathon Mayor Stergios Tsirκas as well as athletes and sports associations. Attica Region Governor Giorgos Patoulis “It is a privilege for Attica to be hosting such a historic athletic event,” said Patoulis, adding that the AMA contributes greatly to the promotion of Attica establishing the region as a tourist destination and utilizing sports to strengthen Greece’s brand name. According to Patoulis, of the 45,000 participating athletes, more than 10,000 are from abroad while 30,000 people will be visiting Attica. He added that 4,000 volunteers will be on hand to provide guidance and assistance. Patoulis also referred to the MoC between the region of Attica and SEGAS which foresees joint actions for the 39th and 40th marathons. “We increased our role in the 39th Athens Marathon, hoping to invest in its multiple benefits. The MoC paves the way for the development of culture and sports centered on the AMA,” he said. Athens Marathon has international appeal On behalf of the Greek Tourism Ministry and the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO), Secretary General Dimitris Fragakis referred to the international appeal of the Athens Marathon and to its important role in promoting Athens, Attica and Greece abroad. Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) President Dimitris Fragakis Fragakis went on to add that the GNTO has been supporting major sporting events including the Acropolis Rally, the International Cycling Tour of Greece, and the Athens Marathon as part of its drive to reach out to more markets. Earlier this year, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias pledged the ministry’s support of the major running event. Last year, Greek runner Konstantinos Gkelaouzos was the first to pass the finish line and the winner of the 38th Athens Marathon. The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is a communication sponsor of the 39th Athens Marathon, the Authentic. Join the 15,000+ travel executives who read our newsletter Follow GTP Headlines on Google News to keep up to date with all the latest on tourism and travel in Greece. Share 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail Maria Paravantes Chicago-born and raised, Maria Paravantes has over two decades of journalistic experience covering tourism and travel, gastronomy, arts, music and culture, economy and finance, politics, health and social issues for international press and media. She has worked for Reuters, The Telegraph, Huffington Post, Billboard Magazine, Time Out Athens, the Athens News, Odyssey Magazine and SETimes.com, among others. She has also served as Special Advisor to Greece’s minister of Foreign Affairs, and to the mayor of Athens on international press and media issues. Maria is currently a reporter, content and features writer for GTP Headlines. previous post GNTO Receives ‘Marco Polo’ Award for China Market Focus next post Ανοίγουν ξανά οι αιτήσεις στα δημόσια ΙΕΚ Τουρισμού της Ελλάδας You may also like Test post 6 June 2025 Greece’s Hotel Market Sees Major Investments Over Four Months 5 February 2025 Greek Tourism Ministry Monitors Santorini Situation as Seismic Activity Continues 5 February 2025 Global Air Passenger Demand Reaches Record High in 2024, IATA Reports 5 February 2025 Greek PM Reassures Public About Santorini’s Ongoing Seismic Activity 5 February 2025 Milos: Ministry Suspends 5-star Hotel Construction Near Sarakiniko Beach 5 February 2025 Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ