First AIMS Marathon Symposium takes place in Marathon, Greece – Coming back to the roots,speaking about the future

The birthplace of the classical race, the village of Marathon in Greek, was the venue for the first Marathon Symposium of the Association of International Marathons and Road Races (AIMS). Held on the day before the Athens Classic Marathon the topic was ,Marathon: Past – Present – Future‘. AIMS cooperated with the IAAF, the Athens Marathon, the Greek athletics federation SEGAS and the city of Marathon to stage this symposium, which is planned to take place annually from now on.

The day in Marathon started with an impressive ceremony at the Marathon Tomb. Two Greek ministers were among the speakers. „It is the aim of the marathon to bring together people from all over the world to a festival of sport and fair play,“ said Michalis Liapis, Greek’s cultural minister. Concerning the Athens Classic Marathon Liapis believes that its future will be a bright one: „I believe that we have reached a turning point in the history of the race now,“ said Liapis while Aris Spiliotopoulos, the minister of Tourism in Greek, stated: „A marathon symbolizes a peaceful gathering of people from all countries.“

Refering to Marathon and Athens Pierre Weiss, the IAAF’s General Secretary, explained that there could not have been a better venue for the Symposium, especially in connection with the marathon on Sunday. „This is the birthplace of sport and of the Olympic Games. So the IAAF happily took the patronage for the AIMS Symposium. Without the work of AIMS in the past 25 years the marathon would not be what it is today,“ said Pierre Weiss, who announced that the IAAF will further support the sport of road running in future: „May be we have missed a train in the past, but now we are catching up.“

Pierre Weiss and Sean Wallace-Jones, the Chairman of the IAAF’s Road Running Committee, explained to the delegates of road races from all over the world the introduction of IAAF Labels for Road Races. Additionally the global federation will start a weekly TV magazine called ,The Running Road Show‘ to give the sport more vital television coverage.

A main topic of the symposium was the economic impact big road races have today. „Analysing a marathon race in terms of economy one has to come to the conclusion that these races are highly attractive,“ said Wolfgang Maennig, who is a professor in economy science at the University of Hamburg and has done relevant surveys in this field. „Already back in 1998 in Berlin we found out that the economic impact of the race for the city was 25 million Euros. Today’s figures are much higher. Boston in 2003 is said to have had an impact of 74 million US-Dollar while the figure for this Sunday’s New York City Marathon is even 220,“ said Wolfgang Maennig.

„Today marathon is so significant, it is a way of life,“ said the Mayor of Marathon, Spiros Zagaris, who had been very eager and supportive to stage stage this symposium and also had been the key figure behind the opening of a new marathon museum in his town. The delegation had lunch in this museum. Among those invited for the marathon weekend were former World Champions Abel Anton (Spain/1997 in Athens and 1999 in Seville) and Rosa Mota (Portugal/1987 in Rome), who also became the Olympic Champion in 1988.

Source/Courtesy
European Athletics (EAA)
https://www.european-athletics.org/
EAA