4500 runners from 60 countries in the 10th anniversary TUI Rhodes Marathon with 45% women!

Everything is ready for the anniversary. 10^ο TUI International Marathon of Rhodes which will take place on Sunday, April 6 with the participation of more than 4,300 runners from 60 countries, many of whom are from Rhodes.

This was revealed by the organizers of the match at the press conference held at the building of Region of South Aegean along with other important information about the match.

The 45% of the entries are from women while the Rhodes Marathon, after the Athens Marathon, is the No.1 in percentage of foreign participants reaching 30% of adult participations.

The torch for the touch of the flame of Kallipateira was also presented, which is handmade from olive wood and varnished with wax from Rhodes beehives and which will be lit by the World Champion. Antigone Drisbioti.

The President of the Hellenic Olympians Voula Kozompoli, will be present at the event, as will the Olympic champion Katerina Thanou together with the winner of the Authentic Athens Marathon Charalambos Pitsolis and the marathon runner Rania Reboulis, while last year's Kenyan winner will also run Kurgat, but also the oldest winner Michael Hadjiioannou.

Also the Foundation TUI Care Foundation, within the framework of the “Junior Academy” program, will supports schools in Rhodes with a significant amount for all children who participate in the Rhodes Marathon for the implementation of environmental actions.

The press conference was attended by the President of the Organizing Committee, Marietta Papavassiliou, the member of SEGAS and vice-president of the Dodecanese Sports Association, Vassilis Zikas, the president of the Dodecanese Sports Association, Giorgos Michalakis, the dean of the School of Humanities of the University of the Aegean, Loizos Sofos, the representative of TUI, Magnus Hiudenberg, the Sports Commissioners from the Region and Municipality, Akis Delaportas and Michalis Plygos and the technical director of the event, Elias Mavroideas. The journalist, Jorge Athanasiou, was in charge.

THE STATEMENTS:

Marietta Papavassiliou: "The 10th anniversary is a huge milestone for the race. As you all know, it began its journey in October 2014 with 134 athletes and by 2025 it had attracted over 4300 athletes from around 60 countries.

In addition to the increase in athletes, in 2025 its name is now accompanied by that of TUI, the largest travel organization in the world. Our promise that in the 10th year we will achieve something exceptionally big has been achieved.

The TUI Rhodes Marathon has now taken its own unique path, now occupying a place among the important running races not only in Greece but also around the world. With the support of the local community and the participation of athletes from various corners of the globe, the TUI Rhodes Marathon is not only a sporting event, but also a celebration of sports, tourism, culture and hospitality.

This year we celebrate this successful course and the bright future of the Rhodes Marathon, which is constantly evolving and highlighting its uniqueness. Looking ahead, we aim to enrich the experience of athletes and visitors, while at the same time strengthening the Marathon's connection with tourism, culture and sports, offering the island a huge international visibility.

The local community has been by its side from the very beginning until today. The TUI Rhodes Marathon takes place on one of the most beautiful and historic islands in Greece, with an organization and operation that make it a reference point for running races internationally.

The race stands out for its unique coastal route, passing by iconic monuments such as the Medieval Walls and the vast blue of the Aegean Sea almost throughout its entire length. Against this unique backdrop and the gentle sea breeze, the race offers an unparalleled experience, reinforcing Rhodes as a top sports tourism destination.

The official approval by SEGAS, as well as the certification by the International Marathon Federation (AIMS) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), underline the quality and validity of the race, ensuring its international recognition.

For all of the above, which we achieved with ten years of hard work, TUI chose to include our marathon in its ambitious plans, investing in sports tourism.

Only one marathon from each country has been selected to be included in the sports tourism project of this prominent travel organization.

We are delighted to announce that we have set a new record for participation! All places in all events have been filled, with more than 4,300 runners – as well as many children – ready to live a unique athletic experience at every distance. Participation in the Marathon, Half Marathon and other distances has shown a significant increase, with a double-digit growth rate, confirming the continuous progress of the event!

"Dedicated to Kallipateira"

The 10th anniversary TUI Rhodes Marathon is dedicated to Kallipateira, the ancient Rhodesian heroine who became the first woman to participate in the Olympic Games, disguised as a man, to watch her son compete. Defying the social taboos of the time, Kallipateira showed courage and strength.

In this way, the event honors every woman who strives for success and equality, in any area of life. Today, her example is more relevant than ever, as gender equality remains a goal for many societies.

The Marathon medal and the official poster of the race depict the figure of Kallipateira, thus honoring this great Rhodian woman of Antiquity, the history and connection of the race with ancient Greek (athletic) tradition.

For the first time in history, the flame of Kallipateira will be lit in Rhodes. This special moment strengthens the connection between the past and the present and underlines the role of Kallipateira as a symbol of athletic ideals and moral integrity.

"TUI offers the Marathon access to millions of travelers and athletes"

TUI offers the Marathon access to millions of travelers and athletes from 21 countries with direct air connections.

Furthermore, the creation of specialized travel packages by the TUI tourism organization enhances participation, giving runners and their companions additional incentives to extend their stay on the island at the beginning of the tourist season, enhancing its expansion.

It is worth noting that the Rhodes Marathon is the only one in Greece that has been selected by TUI for cooperation and support, as is the case with the Mallorca Marathon in Spain. This distinction particularly honors us and confirms the importance and recognition that our race enjoys at an international level.

It should also be noted that the TUI CARE FOUNDATION, within the framework of the Junior Academy program, is going to support schools in Rhodes with a significant amount for the implementation of environmental actions. This is an important social responsibility initiative, which strengthens the connection between sports, education and sustainability. Through this action, students will have the opportunity to participate in programs that promote environmental awareness, while strengthening the local community.

"Live broadcast by ERT3"

The 10th anniversary TUI International Rhodes Marathon will be covered live on television by ERT 3 and online, with live streaming from TUI channels around the world.

I would like to express my special thanks to the co-organizers of the race: the Region of South Aegean and the Governor of the Region George Hadjimarkos, the main supporter and pillar of our Marathon from the very beginning, the Municipality of Rhodes and Mayor Alexandros Koliadis, as well as the EAS SEGAS of the Dodecanese.

We also thank the central SEGAS, the Greek National Tourism Organization and the Ministry of Sports for granting their patronage.

Also the University of the Aegean, the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Dodecanese, the Rhodes Hoteliers' Association and its President, Mr. Yannis Papavassiliou, the Dodecanese Chamber and its President, Mr. Yannis Pappou, for their valuable support.

Allow me to express my thanks to our major sponsors, Under Armour, HHotels Group, hospitality sponsors Mitsis Hotels Group, BlueBay Group, Atlantica Hotels, Horizon Hotels,

Transport sponsors Aegean Airlines, Blue Star Ferries,

the silver sponsor, VAP Kougios, and the communication sponsor, Three Sixty Marketing.

Finally, the Bronze sponsors, PwH, Lindos hotels, One Network, Opel Paraskevas.

I would also like to thank all the members of the organizing and executive committee who volunteer with love and passion to give their best for the best possible result. None of this would have been possible without the invaluable support and tireless contribution of our volunteers. The Rhodes Marathon, with the participation of at least 700 volunteers – either individually or organized in groups – is a great celebration of volunteerism, which highlights the strong sense of service and solidarity in Rhodes.

So see you on April 6, at the great sports festival of our island, the South Aegean, Greece and beyond... Come and celebrate together!

-George Michalakis: "The granting of patronage by SEGAS reflects the high standards of the Race which satisfy the strict criteria of the athletics federation. Criteria for the safety of the organization, for its non-profit nature, the added value for civil society, the participation of a large number of stakeholders, either in the organization of the action or as beneficiaries of it, the high quality of the action and its positive consequences beyond the scope of the organizer in the broader social environment."

-Magnus Hüttenberend (Group Director Media Relations Corporate, Sponsorship & Social Media)

"Rhodes is one of the most important destinations for TUI, and has a deep connection with sports. Our goal is to bring the local community and visitors to the island closer together, creating a unique sporting experience.

As we have seen from our participation in other marathons, each runner travels, on average, with 2.9 other people. This proves that such events are not just sporting events. They also provide development opportunities for the destination.

TUI is supporting the event with 200 participants, confirming our commitment to the success of the race. Our cooperation, as stipulated in the agreement with the organizing committee, is for a three-year period. However, I firmly believe that this relationship will develop into a long-term partnership.

The smile, which is the trademark of our brand, will be wonderful to be recognized by all participants. Thus, the emblematic Rhodes Marathon will function as a platform that will highlight the island and create ambassadors of Rhodes all over the world!

-Ilias Mavroideas: "I will refer more to the statistics. More specifically, for the first time, athletes from 60 countries will participate and 301% of the runners in the adult races are from abroad, a very large percentage for Greek standards, since we do not lead in sports tourism. Thus, the Rhodes Marathon, after the Athens Marathon, is No. 1 in terms of percentage of foreign participants. The countries with the most participation are Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and the USA. The increase in participation by the island's residents is also very important, which we often do not mention, because we emphasize the income and profit of such an event. It is important to get the people of the island out of their homes and to motivate them to exercise. The same thing happens with the children's race, which creates a pleasant problem for us, because the number of participants is growing a lot, resulting in us finding solutions for its safe conduct. Also, 45% are women, which is also important for anyone who knows about road races. As for the individual athletes, Kenyan Moses Kiptoo Kurgat will participate, last year's winner with a course record of 2.16.08, the best performance in 2024 in a marathon in Greece. He will be joined by Kenyan Kenneth Kipitog, while Rania Rebouli, 4^η Panhellenic winner in the Marathon in 2024 in Athens. Charalambos Pitsolis will participate in the half marathon.

Co-organizers of the race are, the Civil Non-Profit Company MARATHON OF RHODES, η Region of South Aegean, ο Municipality of Rhodes, η EAS SEGAS Dodecanese and the University of the AegeanThe event is supported by Rhodes Hotel Association, the Dodecanese Chamber of Commerce, the Museum of Modern Greek Art and the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Dodecanese, while it is under the auspices of SEGAS, of General Secretariat of Sports of Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports and the Greek Tourism Organization (GTO).

Ο TUI Rhodes Marathon is carried out with the certification of International Road Marathon Federation AIMS, on an excellent coastal route that "runs through"

the most important sights of Rhodes.

-OR TUI is the new Title Sponsor and Distribution Partner of TUI Rhodes Marathon, contributing to the strengthening of the international visibility of the event. It is also supported by leading sponsors, with the Major Sponsor being H Hotels Collection Group and the under armour.

-Major Sponsors of the event are the clubs Mitsis Hotels, Atlantica Hotels & Resorts, Blue Bay Group, as well as the Rhodes Horizon City Hotel (Hospitality), the AEGEAN and the Blue Star (Transport), the VAP P. Kougios (Water supply) and the Three Sixty Marketing (Marketing & Communication).

-For more information:

https://www.rhodesmarathon.gr/

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

https://www.instagram.com/tuirhodesmarathon/

FROM THE PRESS OFFICE

OF THE ORGANISATION