FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kenenisa Bekele at the #restartrunning at BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
- Strong field of top runners
- Kenenisa Bekele in good shape
- Finally #restartrunning in Berlin
- Racing wheelchair and handbiker
Lights, action! Camera team jostling camera team, microphones clustered
together - such a busy scene was the picture presented at today's press
conference hosted by SCC EVENTS, organisers of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON to
introduce elite runners, wheelchair competitors and handbikers. The "Friday
Presser" always drew a big crowd during race week. Given that the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON returns as the biggest marathon worldwide since the start
of the pandemic, media interest is greater than ever. After months of
self-denial #restartrunning is at last underway in the capital.
The BMW BERLIN MARATHON with charisma
Jürgen Lock is in role of chief executive of SCC EVENTS, hosts of the press
conference, straightaway set out what was the significance of the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON this year: "We have come a long way, months ago we
accepted the challenge of organising a BMW BERLIN-MARATHON which would be
safe for everyone involved. The team have done brilliantly. We want those
taking part to be laughing and smiling again, that's what counts for us."
After months of deprivation and social distance, SCC EVENTS has set down a
milestone with the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Human beings regain trust and
confidence through sport, inhibitions are broken down. Basic values such as
open-mindedness, tolerance and acceptance at last are revived. On the back
to normality it is these emotions which society needs at this time. Lock
emphasised that these steps had not come easily: "The situation around the
pandemic including furlough working put barriers in the way of SCC EVENTS
which our in-house team and in dialogue with specialists outside were able
to overcome.
This is how SCC EVENTS developed a sophisticated hygiene concept which
ultimately forms the basis for the event and guarantees that the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON will take place in safety. "A very good, mutually
responsible partnership with the city, especially the department for
Interior Affairs and Sport, made possible that we could have a race this
weekend," explained Jürgen Lock and thanked all partners and other
authorities in Berlin.
The Berlin hygiene concept created by SCC EVENTS takes as its base the
"Three Gs" ("Drei Gs"). Everyone taking part has either has to have been
inoculated, recovered or had a negative PCR test and produce the relevant
documents as proof. Spectators along the course are requested to maintain
social distance and wear a mask covering nose and mouth. The RUN FOR JOY -
Campaign underlines the high bar of emotions for the first race in the AWMM
series since the pandemic began. It offers participants and the entire
community a wide range of choices to experience the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON in
all its aspects, to be a part of it and enjoy it.
It's not only the press with around 500 accredited journalists but also
mass and elite sports people whose interest has been aroused by the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON. Around 25,000 participants are expected on race (approx.
3,000 inline skaters on Saturday) including some absolute top performers,
drawn by the idea that: "At last we can all take part in a race. But in
safety! The weather forecast for Sunday is 13 degrees Centigrade at the
start and barely a breath of wind - ideal conditions.
Wheelchair and handbiker competitors
When it came to the elite wheelchair and handbiker competitors at the press
conference, there was no doubting their calibre and recent achievements.
Manuela Schär of Switzerland, a silver medallist in the women's marathon at
the Paralympics in Tokyo, was looking forward to another tough competition:
"I'm curious to see how my body feels after the Games but I've been
training well. I know that Berlin is always a fast course." The Swiss star
also noted that Berlin marks the start of the new season for the Abbott
World Marathon Majors series, which she won in 2017-18 and again the
following season. Her fellow Swiss Marcel Hug, known throughout the sport
as "The Silver Bullet", went one better than Schär at the Paralympics,
winning the men's marathon. He knows it will be tough on Sunday: "The field
is always strong and I know the man next to me (American Daniel Romanchuk,
who took the bronze medal in the marathon in Tokyo) will be among the tough
challengers. Romanchuk, like Hug and many of the wheelchair elite, is
beginning a busy racing schedule which takes in the London Marathon a week
after Berlin. Romanchuk, who did his first marathon aged 14, commented:
"It's going to be an interesting experience!"
Vico Merklein is a big name among the handbikers, having won the Berlin
title six times and is the current course record holder. He reflected on
mixed fortunes at the recent Paralympics, having to drop out of the road
race when rain caused him technical problems. He welcomed the news that a
legend of wheelchair sport, Heinz Frei, was switching to his own domain of
handbiking, adding that the Swiss had the potential to excel in this branch
as well. There was plenty of interest in a rising star among the wheelchair
competitors: the 17-year-old Merle Menje from Germany. She will make her
debut at the distance in Berlin, having competing on the track in the
Paralympics: "It's been my ambition to do a marathon ever since I was
little girl, I can hardly wait to get on the start line. I am really
looking forward to it and want to enjoy my first marathon."
Kenenisa Bekele in good shape
Naturally we are delighted that we have been able to recruit a very strong
field with Kenenisa Bekele at the top,"said the race director Mark Milde.
Guye Adola and Olika Adugna are two compatriots of Kenenisa Bekele who
could also produce impressive results. Adola made what was then the fastest
marathon debut ever when he ran 2:03:36 in Berlin in 2017. "I want to be
among the leading group on Sunday," announced Adola. His fellow Ethiopian
Olika Adugna himself made an excellent marathon debut in Dubai in 2020 with
victory in 2:06:15. Both are men to watch on Sunday. Eleven world records
have been set at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON so far, more than at any other
marathon. Could Kenenisa Bekele make it a round dozen on Sunday? "I have
prepared well, but the pandemic hasn't made it easy in the last two years,"
said Bekele. Asked about the difference with his 2019 race in Berlin where
he went so close to the world record, the man with three Olympic long
distance gold medals to his credit reflected: "At the time it wasn't clear
whether I could run that fast. This time I have more confidence and will do
my best." "Sunday may not be my last chance of the world record, I want to
run a couple of years more," added the 39-year-old, who won the 2016 Berlin
title in 2:03:03, only six seconds outside the then world record. The next
year he had to drop out. This Sunday clearly offers Kenenisa Bekele the
best chance of breaking the world record. It's a view shared by his Dutch
manager Jos Hermens: "Kenenisa has energy and the ability to be right up
front at over 40."
Philipp Pflieger aims for personal best
Philipp Pflieger has one thing in common with Kenenisa Bekele. The only
German top runner among the elite men's field will also be running his
fourth BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. He ran what was his personal best here in 2015
with 2:12:50, qualifying for the Olympic Games. He dropped out of the race
in 2017 and 2019. "My aim is run under 2:12 and perhaps even just under
2:11," said Pflieger, who enters the race with a PB of 2:12:15.
Event week schedule of the 2021 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
MARATHON EXPO
- Date: from September 23 to September 25, 2021
- Clock: from 3.30 p.m. (Sept 23) / other Opening hours here
- Topics: All participants pick up their race kits in person at the
EXPO; participants who have not been vaccinated against Covid19 or
recovered from the disease receive the mandatory pre-race PCR test there;
information from national and international exhibitors about lifestyle,
sports, wellness, health and nutrition; official collection of the BMW
BERLIN MARATHON
- Place: former airport Tempelhof; Platz der Luftbrücke 5, 12101 Berlin
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline skating 2021
- Date: September 25, 2021
- Clock: 3.30 p.m.
- Topic: Start
- Place: Straße des 17. Juni
Press conference winner Inline skating
- Date: September 25, 2021
- Clock: ca. 6.30 p.m.
- Participants: Winner of the 2021 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline skating
- Place: Hotel InterContinental, Room "Pavillon"
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2021
- Date: September 26, 2021
- Clock: first start 8.50 a.m. (more starting times)
- Topic: Start
- Place: Straße des 17. Juni
Press conference Winner Running, wheelchair competition and handbikers
- Date: September 26, 2021
- Clock: ca. 12.30 p.m.
- Participants: Winner of the 2021 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON (Running,
wheelchair, handbike)
- Place: Hotel InterContinental, Room "Pavillon"
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