The 9th International Marathon of Rhodes for a new record number of participants! Participation so far from 52 countries, an increase of 44%.

Athletes from every corner of the world will travel to Rhodes and will stand on the 21 April at the starting line and will run the distances of the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km and 5km, in a unique coastal route of a race that has conquered a special place in the international running movement.

This is evidenced by the number of participants from abroad, as about two months before the 9^th International Marathon of Rhodes, athletes from 52 countries have registered, with the increase compared to this time last year being in double figures and showing that the Marathon of Rhodes is about to break every record.

This was revealed at the first press conference held for the race, by the President of the Organizing Committee Marietta Papavassiliou"Athletes from 52 countries have registered - so far - to participate in the biggest running event of the Dodecanese and the South Aegean. This upward trend means a lot for the organisation. The Rhodes Marathon is now an institution for the global running community and promotes our island all over the world! In addition, the official approval of the SEGAS federation, as well as the International Road Marathon Federation - AIMS & the International Association of Athletics Federations - IAAF, certify its validity and ensure its international recognition.

The Rhodes International Marathon, a race that always takes place at the beginning of the season with the aim of boosting tourist traffic, has over the years scored its own victories. But what I want to emphasize is that the race belongs to Rhodes, to our island, which gave us the opportunity to design a unique coastal route next to the Medieval Walls and alongside the endless blue of the Aegean Sea."

The κ. Papavasileiou thanked all the people and institutions involved in the organization and without them the Rhodes Marathon would not have been possible to become a reality. "I would like to personally thank the organizing committee who volunteer almost all year round to make this race a reality. I would also like to thank the co-organizers, the South Aegean Region and especially the South Aegean Regional Governor George Hatzimarkos who has been with us from the very first moment and without him we could not have done the race.The EAS SEGAS Dodecanese, the Municipality of Rhodes, the Rhodes Hotel Association, the Association of Hoteliers of Rhodes and the Nestorideio Melathro - Museum of Neohellenic Art of Rhodes. I would also like to thank the MEGA Sponsors of the Marathon which are the hotel group HHOTELS Collection and the leading sports brand Under Armour. I would like to thank the MAJOR Sponsors who are also consistently by our side, Aegean as Air Transport Sponsor, Blue Star as Sea Transport Sponsor, Mitsis Hotels Group as Hospitality Sponsor and Three Sixty Marketing as Communication and Marketing Sponsor. I would like to thank all the official sponsors and supporters of the event who with their practical support and assistance, the Rhodes International Marathon, developed, evolved and went through an upward course, closing a decade as a sporting event.

And I could not fail to thank all the volunteer groups and the hundreds of volunteers, and the Traffic Police, Mr Papadakis, the soul of the race. Without their valuable help, nothing would have been possible."

The President of the Organizing Committee and the social contribution of the Struggle: "In 2023 the Rhodes Marathon managed to financially support the Rhodes Hospital, the ambulance service, the EAS SEGAS Dodesos and volunteer groups. This year we have included a walk in the 5 km distance to strengthen our contribution. Finally, I am pleased to announce that this year too - with a beautiful event at the Town Hall Square - we will welcome the Marathon Flame in Rhodes, which makes us very happy."

The Vice President of the Organizing Committee and President of the Association of Dodecanese Athletics Clubs Vassilis Zeikas said: "The Rhodes Marathon is a unique sporting event that is an ideal model for the synthesis of sport, culture, tourism promotion and local development activity. It includes routes that cover the entire age range, giving the opportunity for sports participation - motivation to the citizens of Rhodes and visitors.

It highlights values such as volunteerism, social contribution, solidarity, participation, fair play and competition, as they have been highlighted and taught since ancient Greece and continue to this day. It gives the opportunity to athletes and sportsmen of all ages, to members of the running movement, to high school, high school and primary school students to feel the joy of participation and movement, aims beyond the improvement of the mental and physical health of citizens, to promote true human relations and to defend all those values and ideals that make a society active and able to cope with today's circumstances."

The Technical Director of the race Nikos Polyas he stressed: "This race is for the whole community, for people who have nothing to do with sport and this year have the opportunity to walk, for our children and for runners from all over the world. This message is spreading even more every year and we are very happy because we already have runners from 52 countries with an increase of 44% in the same day as last year, with runners mainly from abroad. The countries with the highest participation are Great Britain which has pleasantly surprised us with 20% of registrations coming from there, France, Poland, the United States, Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands, Ireland, South Africa and Slovakia. We have already surpassed the number of participants in last year's marathon and it is certain that day by day, we will be able to set a new record for the remaining distances as well."

For the Region of South Aegean the Deputy Regional Governor Apostolis Asprakis said: "The South Aegean Region, with the development of sport in mind, supports the effort of the 9th Rhodes International Marathon and I want to wish the event good luck and that we will be at their side."

The Executive Councillor for Sports of the South Aegean Region, Akis Delaportas he pointed out: "The Region cannot be absent from such an event that highlights sport and has been held for nine years with great success. And it is not only about the Region but also about Rhodes and I want to congratulate the Organizing Committee and the volunteers who do an excellent job. The Region will always stand by the side of such great events."

At the press conference held in the South Aegean Region spoke and the Executive Councillor for Sports of the Municipality of Rhodes Michael Plygos. "I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic accident in Tempe, it is the least we can do at this moment. I am particularly pleased to be here representing the Municipality of Rhodes and to say that sport is one of the expressions of culture, as it ennobles the body, the soul and the spirit. The Directorate of Culture and Sports congratulates all the institutions, both public and private, that through the race promote the island of Rhodes, highlight the fair play and have made Rhodes the centre of the world running community. I would like to congratulate the organisers and wish them success in the race."

Registrations for the 9th Marathon of Rhodes continue for the events of the Marathon, Half Marathon, 5 and 10 km, on the race's website https://www.rhodesmarathon.gr/ and is an opportunity for those interested to benefit from preferential prices on tickets and accommodation.

Co-organizers of the race are, the Civil Non-Profit Company MARATHON OF RHODES, η EAS SEGAS Dodecanese, η Region of South Aegean and the Municipality of Rhodes-DOPAR. Also, the race is supported by the Dodecanese Chamber of Commerce, the Rhodes Hotel Association and the Museum of Modern Greek Art of the Municipality of Rhodes, while it is under the auspices of EEA. It is carried out with the certification of the SEGAS and the International Road Marathon Federation AIMS, on an excellent coastal route that "runs" through the most important sights of Rhodes.

-For more information:

https://www.rhodesmarathon.gr/

https://www.facebook.com/roads2rhodes/

https://www.Instagram.com/roadstorhodes/

FROM THE MARATHON PRESS OFFICE