FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2,500 YEARS OF THE MARATHON
AIMS (The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) is to
mark the 2,500th year of the marathon race by staging its 18th Congress in
Athens, Greece on 28-30 October 2010. The organizer of the Congress will be
the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), the organizer of the
international Athens Classic Marathon (ACM), held every November at the
authentic marathon course, from the town of Marathon to Athens city centre.
The word 'marathon' is now part of every day global language yet its story
is perhaps the most unique tale of sporting and cultural history ever told.
It comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier-runner who ran
from the town of Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce that the Persians
had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon. It is said that he ran the
entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming
'We won.' before collapsing and dying.
The right to stage the Congress was won against strong bids from: Prague,
Czech Republic; Jungfrau, Switzerland; and Durban, South Africa.
AIMS Director and Berlin Marathon founder Horst Milde comments: "The
members felt that the opportunity to mark the most significant date within
our sport on its 2,500th year was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a
sporting concept that has caught the imagination of the world and has come
to be seen as a personal benchmark of health, fitness and achievement for
runners around the World."
The 2010 Congress will be staged along with the 4th edition of the
AIMS-IAAF Marathon Symposium, annually staged in the town of Marathon, the
day before the Athens Classic Marathon, looking at current and topical
issues within the sport of distance running. The Congress and Symposium is
open to AIMS members but also all race directors around the world. For
this year, those interested in attending the 3rd AIMS-IAAF Marathon
Symposium, 7 November, 2009, should contact:
As a gesture to the Marathon Movement and a way of marking the upcoming
2,500th year anniversary of the Marathon Battle, SEGAS in collaboration
with AIMS and the town of Marathon have created, since 2007, the "Marathon
Flame" which is lit yearly at the Tomb of Marathon, the day before the
Athens Classic Marathon, and is taken to many events around the world
symbolizing the sport's remarkable history. If you are interested in having
the Marathon Flame visit your city/event contact the Hellenic Athletics
Federation and Athens Classic Marathon:
For further information please visit The Association of International
Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) website: www.aimsworldrunning.org
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