Greece Bets on Athens Marathon to Promote Sports Tourism

Photo source: SEGAS

In the runup to the 40^th anniversary Athens Marathon The Authentic to take place in Attica on November 12, the Greek Tourism Ministry and the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) agreed to a series of joint actions that will further promote the global running event and sports tourism in Greece.

In this direction, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni met with SEGAS President Sofia Sakorafa to discuss how to tap into the Athens Marathon and develop sports tourism products.

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni with SEGAS President Sofia Sakorafa. Photo source: Tourism Ministry.

The two sides also discussed the importance of a conference to be organized by the European Athletic Association on the sidelines of the Athens Marathon in 2024.

Hotel occupancy levels almost 100% during Athens Marathon

Indicative of the Athens Marathon’s importance for Attica, SEGAS data reveals that occupancy levels at Athens hotels during the four-day event reaches 97 percent.

Approximately 18,000 foreign athletes come to Athens to run the race in addition to the 45,000 visitors who generate around 45 million euros in revenues for the Attica Region. At the same time, 180 exhibitors participate in the largest athletics fair in Greece, which attracts some 90,000 visitors who spend around 900,000 euros. More than half of the runners are visiting Greece for the first time.

Photo source: SEGAS

This year on November 11-12, over 70,000 runners, 6,500 volunteers, 800 companies, 150 universities and 60 associations from across the globe will be in Athens to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the historic 42km running race, which traces the footsteps of ancient Greek messenger Pheidippides who ran from Marathon to Athens to convey the news of Greece’s victory over the Persians in 490 BC.