Limassol marathon growing in scope

International registrations for the 9th Limassol Marathon, on March 29 along the town’s coastal road, have increased threefold, organising committee chairman Spyros Spyrou said on Tuesday.

Spyrou said participation has spiked to 856 from 50 countries, compared to 269 in 2014 at the same stage.

“Our goal and vision is to make the Limassol Marathon one of the most popular in Europe, a truly international event that can be embraced by the local community,” he said.

Olympia Sports Club chairman Neoclis Thoma said that despite the negative economic environment and various obstacles that have cropped up along the way, the four organisers – the Limassol Municipality, the Olympia Sports Club, the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Limassol Tourist Development and Promotion Company – jointly managed to promote the Limassol Marathon as the single largest athletic event islandwide.

He called on all Limassol residents to embrace the event again, either through participating or attending the route as spectators.

Limassol mayor Andreas Christou said the municipality will continue to support the event, which has become a staple of the city and its beachfront.

“It is an event that honours our town, as well as our country, since it is the only marathon in Cyprus that is on the calendar of international organisations,” he added.

He was referring to the fact that the Limassol Marathon is listed on the International Athletics Federation (IAAF) calendar.

The 42,195-metre marathon will start at 9am at the Limassol pier. It will also feature five additional races – the Half-Marathon, the 10-kilometre Health Race, the 5-kilometre City Race, the PrimeTel 5-kilometre Corporate Race, and the McDonald’s 1-kilometre Kids Race.

http://www.limassolmarathon.com

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