
Participate in the Rhodes Marathon, offer food to the "Love Connection"
April 19, 2024
Record distance at the Rhodes Marathon - Thousands of runners experienced a great race!
April 23, 2024
OThe final details of the 9th International Road Marathon of Rhodes, which will take place on Sunday 21 April 2024, were announced in the conference room of the South Aegean Regional Council, during the second and last press conference of the Organizing Committee.
In attendance, the mayor of Rhodes Alexandros Koliadis, the appointed Sports Advisor of the Region Akis Delaportas, the president of the Rhodes Hotel Association Yannis Papavasiliou, the vice president of EBED George Antonoglou, and the technical director of the race Nikos Polias.
The hosts were the President of the Organizing Committee, Marietta Papavassiliou, the Vice President and President of EAS SEGAS Dodecanese Vassilis Zekas. In the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10,000m, 5,000m (running and fast walking) and 1,000m for students, approximately 4,000 athletes will participate, a record number for the event. With 717 runners from 57 countries from abroad, they rank the Rhodes Marathon in 2nd place.η in Greece, after Athens!
The statements
-Marietta Papavassiliou"The Rhodes International Marathon started in October 2014 and has taken its own unique route, now occupying a place among the most important running races around the world.
Indeed, the Rhodes Marathon has become a top sporting event. It is a race that takes place on one of the most beautiful islands of Greece and ranks among the most important racing events in our country because of its organizational and functional excellence.
The official approval of the Federation of SEGAS, as well as the International Association of International Marathon Road Running Federations - AIMS & the International Association of Athletics Federations - IAAF, certify its validity and ensure its international recognition.
The International Marathon of Rhodes returns on April 21, ready to welcome runners from all over Greece and from every corner of the world.
And it returns with many surprises...
We are excited as we have achieved a new record number of participants. Places were allocated in all events and more than 3700 runners and children alike will take their place at the starting lines to experience a special running experience!
We are very happy as important athletes will take part in this year's event!
The race will be run by the winner of the Athens Marathon Panagiotis Karaiskos and a Kenyan runner.
It is also a great honor to have as ambassadors of the race the Olympic champion Pyrros Dimas.
This year's race will also be illuminated by the Flame of the Authentic Marathon, which we will have the honour to welcome for the second time in Rhodes. On Saturday 20 April, just before 8 pm, the ceremony of welcoming the Marathon Flame and lighting the altar will take place in the Town Hall Square. The Elli Paraskeva school has prepared a special dance/theatrical event and the music school will give a special concert.
Apart from the lighting ceremony of the Marathon flame altar, we have planned many interesting activities for runners and friends of the race!
On the morning of Saturday 20 April before the big race, a unique tour of the Old Town has been planned in cooperation with the Dodecanese Association of Diplomatic Tour Guides and its president Mr. Dimitris Salahouris, so that visitors can admire the historical sights and discover the secrets of the enchanting island. The tour starts at 11.00 from the Tourist Information Office, at Madraki, 3 Averoff Street, opposite the New Market.
Later on Saturday afternoon, at the outdoor area of the "To Rodon" cinema, a unique street party will take place from 16:00 to 20:00 with music by Petros Triantafyllou - KALIDON - George Manolas and the established... pasta party.
Local music bands of Rhodes will rouse us with their music. In the dome opposite the Aktaion there will be a concert from 11:00 to 13:00 which nobody should miss!
Wanting to leave our own social footprint, as far as possible, we have planned two different actions.
On Sunday after the end of the games there will be a mini-cruise through the port of Rhodes, starting from across from the Bank of Greece. The proceeds will be used to support the Rhodes ambulance and the hospital.
Also in cooperation with the Association of Love, food will be collected and distributed to our fellow human beings in need. The food will be collected at the Registration Center, at the Museum of Modern Greek Art, at the
Art - Nestorideion Hall on Friday 19 April 15:00 - 20:00 and Saturday 20 April 10:00 - 19:00 and on Sunday the day of the games."
-Alexander Koliadis"We know what effort you make every year as citizens and you don't have to have an institutional position to understand your great struggle to raise the bar. But unfortunately I see a bit of disdain from some journalists because they obviously don't understand the magnitude of the event. Maybe some sports journalists are into politics or some politicians are into sports and have got the ball a little bit confused... I would really like to see it embraced by everyone. Since some people are not here, we are here to prove that this effort that has been going on since 2014 deserves congratulations, since it is purely voluntary and has a social footprint that we have proven as Rhodes in both the difficult and the beautiful times. We all have a very nice smile, because the Marathon gives a dynamic to our island, nationwide and beyond. The advertising and extroversion through this event is evident. Congratulations to all of you, the Region, the Chamber, the Hotel Association and the sponsors. This year, to be honest, the City was not able to help in the way it wanted to, as in previous years as IOPAR, when we were close. But it is a promise that in the tenth anniversary we will be much closer because you all deserve it, both Rhodes and the volunteers. Thank you because you fill us with optimism and strength to stand by you and bring the island where it truly deserves to be. Congratulations to George Hadjimarkos who never stopped supporting this great event and this year, when we as a municipality were not so close, he stepped up once again. Good luck."
-Vassilis Zeikas: "The Rhodes Marathon is a special sporting event that through sport, promotes culture and creates local tourism development activity.
It highlights values that have been cultivated in ancient Greece such as volunteerism, social contribution, solidarity, participation, fair play and competition.
It gives participants the opportunity to feel the joy of participation and movement, aims beyond improving the mental and physical health of our fellow citizens, to promote true human relationships and to uphold all those values and ideals that make a society active and capable with a focus on people.
It provides an opportunity for cooperation between institutions and individuals, mobilising associations, clubs and volunteers.
The cooperation of almost all the local bodies and bodies of all levels of government have resulted in a high participation that has exhausted our numerical targets and gives us the strength to raise the bar.
I would like to thank the Regional Authority, the Municipality of Rhodes, SEGAS, the Rhodes Hotel Association, the Dodecanese Chamber of Commerce, the Dodecanese Police Directorate, the Rhodes Traffic Police, the General Hospital of Rhodes and the 28 Associations and Voluntary Groups that are participating.
The 250 individual volunteers who participate under the guidance of the Organizing Committee.
The local businesses that participate financially in the organization and the needs that arise as sponsors to provide services and goods necessary for the organization and conduct of the race.
And this year we will welcome the Flame of the Authentic Marathon Road from the Municipality of Marathon, which symbolizes the contribution of our country to all peoples of the high ideals of democracy, freedom, justice and the effort we must make to become their guardians for the generations that will come after us.
Aiming, apart from sports participation, at the cultivation of cooperation, the development of volunteerism, social contribution and the general awareness of citizens for participation in events that benefit society as a whole,
the Organizing Committee, consisting of volunteers, has made every effort for a quality and successful race that will fulfill everyone's goals.
The Rhodes Marathon has the approval of the SEGAS, the certification of the International Marathon Federation AIMS and under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Sports."
-Akis Delaportas"I would like to express my congratulations on behalf of the Region. This event was initiated and supported by George Hatzimarkos, because it offers the best, not only in Rhodes with the advertising, but it is a good occasion to prove that it can have beneficial results in general in the South Aegean and not only... We have reached about 4,000 participants in all the races, I take my hat off to you, because you were not afraid of it and you can take it even higher."
-John Papavasileiou: "In 2014, in family discussions with my sister and friends, this idea started and went very high. We today want to announce two things. First: in the tenth edition that will take place next year, we will advertise it as a mega event in all our contracts, which means that 2,600,000 people when they visit Rhodes will know from the beginning when this race will take place. Secondly: I would also suggest that the whole event should be a three-day event, not a one-day event. We will be present and will help as much as we can. Good luck to everyone."
-George Antonoglou"The running movement in Greece began to honour the great runners of antiquity who ran distances of tens and hundreds of kilometres to carry messages of victory, the end of war and peace. With the global situation being nothing but promising and all the tragedies that are happening in our neighbourhood, let us also send the message of the end of wars and the prevalence of peace through the 9th Marathon. In turn, I congratulate and thank all those who contributed to this huge event being held in Rhodes, the president and the organizing committee, as well as the volunteers, because they have made a tremendous effort. The Rhodes Marathon is a top sporting and cultural event and, as the evidence shows, with a global appeal that has become a benchmark for sport and the city of Rhodes. The Dodecanese Chamber of Commerce as a sponsor has been by the side of the organizing committee from the very first moment, while it supports and will continue to support sporting events such as the Marathon that offer opportunities to get to know our island and promote sports tourism at the same time. Good luck."
-Nikos Polias"We are ready to welcome runners from abroad and the five continents, 57 countries and 717 from abroad, which is a record number and ranks us in 2nd place of marathons in Greece in terms of attendance. Even Thessaloniki does not have this number from abroad. Characteristically, I will mention that we will have 176 runners from Great Britain, 60 from Poland, 60 from France, 97 from France, 49 from Turkey, 41 from the USA, 29 from the Netherlands, 20 from Slovakia, 17 from Ireland and 16 from Estonia. The number is significant and if you look at it as a whole, the work that has been done in terms of media and social networking promotion is professional and targeted, so I want to offer my congratulations. The number of children who are the future and will have these intense experiences is also very important so that as active citizens they can embrace sport. Our goal is not only mass participation, which is why we have secured the presence of a Kenyan runner with a 2.09 time, Moses Kipto Kurgat, for a new course record. His opponent will be last year's British winner Tom Charles, who will be looking to improve his time, and they will be joined by George Minos, an excellent Greek marathon runner. Panagiotis Karaiskos, winner of the Athens Marathon, will participate in the 10km and will give the event the scope it deserves. It is important to note that the organizing committee is not only trying to carry out the race, but also to constantly improve it. On Sunday we will have an amazing race and it will be the precursor to the anniversary event, so that it will take an even higher position in Greece and abroad."
-For the part of the route with the works in the port...
Based on what is known, after the work there, the runners will be allowed to run without a problem, although the road will not be in the best possible condition. Besides, this image does not suit Rhodes, as Alexandros Koliadis said, because we are talking about an important race and the work must be completed because the citizens have suffered. Marietta Papavassiliou said that the contractor Mr. Mitsopoulos will speed up the procedures and promised that one side will be ready and will be straight so as not to make it difficult for the runners.
-The race will be run by the winner of the Athens Marathon Panagiotis Karaiskos and its ambassador is the Olympic champion Pyrros Dimas!
-Co-organizers of the race are, the NGO MARATHONIOS RODOS RODOS, the EAS SEGAS Dodecanese, the South Aegean Region. Also, the race is supported by
by the Municipality of Rhodes, the Dodecanese Chamber of Commerce and the Rhodes Hoteliers Association, while it is under the auspices of the Greek Tourism Organisation. It is certified by SEGAS and the International Road Marathon Federation AIMS, on an excellent coastal route that "runs" through the most important sights of Rhodes.
-Golden Sponsors of the 9th Rhodes International Marathon are H Hotels Collection Group, TUI and Under Armour. Silver Sponsors are Aegean Airlines, Mitsis Hotels Group, Blue Star and Three Sixty Marketing. Official Sponsors are KAYKAS, BAP P.KOUGIOS, MG MOTOR Paraskevas, Sunrise Hotel, Roufas Furniture, iSTORM, Lindos Hotel, Blue Bay Labranda, ERGO Hellas, TEN-T and PwC.
-Communication sponsors are oι ERT 3, Mad TV, MadRadio, Real Voice 99.5, RadioProto 91.5, Radio Archangel 94.1, Best FM 103.1, Radio 1 88, TourismTheday.gr, iRunmag.gr and Innews.
-For more information:
https://www.rhodesmarathon.gr/
https://www.facebook.com/roads2rhodes/
https://www.instagram.com/roadstorhodes/
FROM THE PRESS OFFICE OF THE RHODES MARATHON
