FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"Athens Marathon. The Authentic" on November 13

Running Boom in Athens: 50,000 entries and Elite Runners return
to the Authentic Race

The "Athens Marathon. The Authentic" (AMA) continues its run of success
despite the tough economic situation for Greece as a whole. The organisers
of the first ever classic marathon race in history, which leads on the
original course from Marathon to Athens, have announced that the elite
field will be restored to the event on November 13 after a one year break.
In addition, the race is certain to make history, since for the first time
more than 50,000 runners are expected to register for the various events in
the Greek capital. They will include a record of at least 18,000 who will
run this classic marathon course.

In the days before the "Athens Marathon. The Authentic", organised by
SEGAS, the Hellenic Athletics Federation, the 21st World Congress of the
Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) will also
take place in Athens, the birthplace of the marathon race and host of AIMS
headquarters since 2011. 2016 will also mark the fourth year that Athens
will host the "AIMS Best Marathon Runner" Awards. These will be presented
to the best marathon male and female runners of 2016, chosen by a vote
amongst all 400+ AIMS members.

After a year of intensive bank capital controls in Greece, the Authentic
Marathon will be able this year to resume recruiting international runners
for its elite field. In 2015 this had to be curtailed due to the bank
capital controls which had deprived SEGAS from the legal framework to make
proper financial arrangements with the international elite athletes.
Nonetheless the race proved a success in the circumstances with a record
number of more than 43,000 athletes entered for the various distances in
2015. The return of the elite athletes ensures the Athens Marathon regains
its true international status. The organisers are keen to recruit top
runners who are capable of breaking the course record. In 2014 Felix Kandie
of Kenya ran 2:10:37 to break by 18 seconds the time of Italy's Olympic
champion Stefano Baldini which had stood for ten years.

Before the winner of the 34th edition of the "Athens Marathon. The
Authentic" crosses the finish line in the Panathenaic Stadium on November
13, an important special ceremony will also take place in that same venue
which staged the first Olympics of the modern era in 1896. This will
commemorate the first Olympic Marathon race, held 120 years ago. The
ceremony will be organised in conjunction with the Hellenic Olympic
Committee and the organisers expect huge numbers of spectators in the
historic marble arena.

In the meantime the Authentic Marathon has clearly aroused great interest
in running among the Greek public. Proof of this was provided on just one
day in spring this year when the organisers opened online registration for
participation. Within 10 hours races for the shorter distances of 5 and 10k
were completely sold out. "The success of the Athens Marathon is a
contribution to people's awareness of a healthier lifestyle. That is really
the biggest legacy of the Athens Marathon for the Greek public," said
Kostas Panagopoulos, President of the Hellenic Athletics Federation.

More information and online entry is available at:
www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr

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