FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AIMS Best Marathon Runner of the Year to be
Announced Two Days Before Marathon in Athens
The AIMS Best Marathon Runner of the Year award will be presented to a male
and female athlete for the first time on 8th November in Athens. This was
announced by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races
(AIMS) who will stage a Gala in cooperation with the Hellenic Athletics
Federation (SEGAS), the organiser of the Athens Classic Marathon, to mark
the occasion. There could not be a more fitting venue to honour a male and
a female winner than the birthplace of the classic race. The gala will be
take place two days before the start of the Athens Classic Marathon, which
will see its 31st edition on 10th November.
Nowhere in the history of marathon running has such a dramatic background
as Athens, where the course follows the original route from Marathon to the
Panathinaikon Stadium in the capital. This was where it all began in 490 BC
with the story of the Athenian soldier-messenger Pheidippides, who is said
to have run from Marathon to Athens, bearing news of victory against the
invading Persians, but collapsed and died on arrival. To honour the heroic
deed of the legendary ancient runner, in 1896 the first Olympic Games of
modern times included the first ever official marathon race. The authentic
route of 42.195 k – measured by AIMS/IAAF officials – was used again during
the Olympics in 2004. It is the course of the Athens Classic Marathon that
takes place under very high international race organisation standards on
the second Sunday of November each year.
However, this year there was a twist in the tale some months before the
start of the race. When Greek state television station ERT was closed down
in a desperate attempt to save money for the struggling Greek economy, this
appeared to deal a body blow to the race. The potential loss of TV coverage
could have brought the story of the Athens Classic Marathon to a close. But
the organisers of the very first marathon race achieved a miracle after the
new TV station Greek Public Television started working at a much more basic
level some time later.
With TV coverage guaranteed, not only is the Athens Classic Marathon
secured, but it could also move up to another level. The reason for this is
that the AIMS Best Marathon Runner of the Year ceremony, which will also be
shown live on Greek Public Television, will now take place in Athens each
year. The candidates for the award will be announced by AIMS shortly.
Performances from October 2012 until September 2013 are to be considered
for the nomination. While the AIMS Executive Board nominates the
candidates, all AIMS member races (more than 350 at present) will then have
a vote to determine the winner.
AIMS will discontinue their other annual award, the AIMS Runner of the
Year. With the new event taking on a wider scope and Athens providing the
ideal venue, the award should be on course to achieve global recognition.
Both male and female winners will receive a 15,000 US Dollar prize while
second and third placed athletes will be rewarded with 5,000 US Dollars
each.
Two days after around 800 guests are expected to attend the Gala, the 31st
edition of the Athens Classic Marathon will take place, attracting a record
field. Taking into account other running events, 30,000 athletes have
already entered the race, among them more than 11,000 marathon runners.
While registration for the shorter races is no longer possible, entries for
the marathon are still accepted.
Information and online entry is available at: www.athensclassicmarathon.gr
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