23. World Congress of AIMS (Association of International Marathon and Distance Races) in Osaka from 23–25 February 2023 – First international congress since 2018

AIMS President Paco Borao welcomed those attending. 103 member events appeared on the list of participants. In his welcoming report to Congress Mr Borao used graphs to show how difficult it had been over the last 4.5 years to keep track of which races were postponed and which were cancelled at times when very few races were being staged because of the physical restrictions in place.

He suggested that 2023 would still be spent chasing the race numbers of the peak year of 2019 of 496 Members compared to the current 402 and this would likely not be achieved until 2024.

The main agenda items after the welcome and future plans of AIMS President Paco Borao, were the financial and treasury report of Treasurer Al Boka, the communication and marketing report.

AIMS Treasurer Al Boka (l.) and Dejan Nicolic from Belgrad Marathon – Photo: Horst Milde

 Prof. Shinya Yamanaka during his sensational lecture – Photo: Horst Milde

The most important presentation of the first day – but also the keynote speaker of the whole congress – on the topic „About Running“ was the lecture of Prof. Shinya Yamanaka (Japan), Director Emeritus, Kyoto University IPS Cell Research Institute. He is a 2012 Nobel Laureate in Medicine and Physiology. According to him, he is probably the only marathon running Nobel laureate.

Prof. Shinya Yamanaka (Japan) welcomed with Toshihiko Seko, a former famous japanese runner (won Boston twice 1981 and 1987 (l.) – Photo: Horst Milde

We will share more about his forward thinking on marathon and running later.

Later in the morning Kathryn Widu gave a presentation on how the Vienna City Marathon had ‘bounced back’ from covid to become one of the first races to return to mass participation numbers. Unfortunately there had been recent cases of covid within her household and she had to deliver the presentation by video.

An interactive session took place in the afternoon where five groups separately discussed the subject of ‘Lessons learned from Covid’ among themselves before reporting back to the main session.

One of the five groups discussed the subject of ‘Lessons learned from Covid – Photo: Horst Milde

In the afternoon, the candidates for election to the AIMS Board presented themselves.
Also discussed were the proposals of the Board to change the statutes so that the Treasurer and Secretary General and the Treasurer are not elected by the members but are appointed by the Board.
In the evening there was the big welcome party with a big show act and a delicious Japanese buffet at the conference hotel New Otani Osaka.

Sushi, noodles, soups and … very delicious Japanese buffet – Photo: Horst Milde

A big show act and a delicious Japanese buffet at the conference Hotel New Otani Osaka. – Photo: Horst Milde

The second day of the meeting started with technical report by Dave Cundy,

Dave Cundy and his technical report: Course Measurement – Photo: Horst Milde

then Martha Morales spoke to theAIMS report on the further development of the AIMS Kids Run and especially on the promotion of the Women’s Run, where AIMS is planning a big Women’s Run Congress.

Martha Morales and her Womens Ambassadors Program 2023/2024 … – Photo: Horst Milde

Horst Milde, the AIMS Consultant for the AIMS Marathoneum in Berlin presented in a Power-Point presentation the most important new acquisitions of the AIMS Marathoneum – already before there was the multi-page brochure „Marathoneum Documents Nr. 6 Rarities and Acquistions from the AIMS Marathoneum“ printed in Japan with the presentation of the Distance Marker of the London Olympic Marathon 1908 acquired by AIMS and the donated pieces of the „Wim Verhoorn Collection“.

Frank Baillie had already called in Tallinn the members to bring a T-shirt and a medal of their running event, this was already then a great success, also to Osaka the members brought also their most beautiful T -shirts and medals. These were all displayed on a wall in the conference hall, there were real jewels among them.

T-shirts and medals, as well as memorabilia and souvenirs of the OSAKA Marathon, will be sent by the Osaka Congress organizers to the AIMS Marathoneum in Berlin.

The exhibition the many t-shirts and medals sent in by the AIMS members –  they will be packed up by busy volunteers already at the end of the AIMS Congress to be sent to the Marathoneum in Berlin together with many other souvenirs and memorabilia of the Osaka Marathon. – Photos: Horst Milde

On the second day Mike Nishi of the Chicago Marathon shared his thoughts on the impact of Covid and what it would mean for future events. An exchange of views between Tad Hayano (Tokyo Marathon) and Fernando Jamarne (Santiago Marathon) revealed how severely covid had impacted on the finances of races which had been forced to cancel but that after the 2022 races had been held it had been possible to see a pathway to recovery over the next editions.

A part of the programme was devoted to AIMS partners making presentations to the delegates on the goods and services they provide, After this a plaque was awarded to Francis Kay of Marathon Photos to mark 20 years of co-operation with AIMS. Francis Kay later arranged the group photo which he has taken at all Congresses held since 2002.

Later in the afternoon Branislav Koniar of the Košice Peace Marathon described how, since his race was founded 100 years ago, it has been held every year thanks to the strong attachment it shares with the city. The robust working relationship has allowed a small city like Košice to achieve much more with its marathon than others of similar size.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Mike Nishi

Renna Nelis

A second vote was held to elect four Board members from the nine that had been proposed and seconded.

The successful candidates were Mike Nishi (Chicago Marathon); Renna Nelis (Tallinn Marathon); Rut Jiroajvanichakorn (Bangsaen 21), and Branislav Koniar (Košice Peace Marathon).