AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER AWARD – Athens, November 6th, 2015 – Opening Speech by AIMS President Paco Borao

Mrs. Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura,
Mr. Minister of Sports Stavros Kontoris
Mr. Mayor of Athens Yorgos Kaminis
Mr. Mayor of Marathon IlliasPsinakis
Mr. President of Hellenic Oly. Comtee. Spyros Kapralos
Mr. Pdt. of Hellenic Paralympic Cte. Giorgios Fountoulakis
IAAF Rep’s Mr. Sean Wallace-Jones
Mr. President & colleagues of SEGAS, Authorities, AIMS sponsors, AIMS Race Directors,
Athletes & organizations nominees Ladies & gent, friends of Marathon &Running family,

Welcome to the 2015 AIMS Best Marathon Runner Awards Gala
There is no secret for anybody that I remain a runner, training about one hour a day, 4 – 5 days a week, and so doing as often as I can,… alone!

As we know, the accelerated society we are living in is built up on stress, things essential today become disposable tomorrow, so I think we need some space and time alone thinking about ourselves and our environment, doing our own self brain storming and diagnostics, with no surrounding pressures of any kind.
No better solution that doing it running…, but keep in mind, running alone!

Last week my thoughts went to the tremendous, continuous increase of runners and races all around the world within this healthy, peaceful, challenging activity, even setting a wide spectrum of more and more initiatives of solidarity of all kinds.
You would agree that all this is much more than we ever thought…

My feeling was gratitude in the largest sense to all who have contributed to build up this movement; from the Greeks involved in the Battle of Marathon and those organizing the Ancient Olympics Games for twelve decades in Olympia,
Baron Pierre de Coubertin and his friend Michel Breal for creating in Athens the First Olympic Games with the marathon race as its Queen competition…

By the way, this coming 25th November will be the centennial anniversary of Michel Breal death, the so-called father of the marathon race; for those who don’t know him, he was born in Landau, Germany, then moved to France to develop his career as linguist…   

And gratitude to all of you race directors, authorities, federations, sponsors, runners, volunteers, …
In summary to all who by their work have hardly invested and contributed to keep lighting this flame for so many years, giving us the opportunity to take it and carry it where it is today…
We at AIMS feel proud of our strong relationship with our partner SEGAS and its Athens Marathon, the Authentic, as well as with both cities Marathon and Athens representing the birthplace of our main sport race, the marathon.  

This relationship built to promote the marathon and running goes even further than just a sportive link:

Since 2007, we are hosting a Symposium, build up then by a Marathon City, SEGAS, IAAF and AIMS team to share information, experience and expertise among people involved in race organizations, with its 9th edition scheduled for tomorrow.

Since 2011, our AIMS HQ offices are set at the Olympic Stadium, Avenue Spyros Louis, as central administrative focal point.

And with a preamble in 2012 with our AIMS-SEGAS 30th anniversary dinner, we launched in 2013 this AIMS Best Marathon Runner Gala, where we are proud to present:

the awards to the Best man and woman marathon runners;

the Green and the Social awards to the so-considered AIMS race organizations;

the Life Time Achievement award to people having made special long-term devoted work towards marathon and running promotion;

and a special award to local men and/or women runners representing the millions of popular athletes who contribute to build up this movement.

All these awards made to enhance our loved sport. As times are getting hard all around the world, I deeply believe that our message of peace, friendship and solidarity remain a key sportive and social motivation.

No secret that current times are asking for renewed efforts to keep the desired level of quality within the services we give to runners. As marathon runners we are not afraid of long distances and strong efforts, so we promise we will continue to fight for the sportive and social goals set in the Olympic Charter.

In any case, let’s enjoy being together tonight, with the best runners, the best races, the best representatives of marathon, running, athletic family, let’s take advantage of being with the best to get the highest possible motivation to keep going ahead!

I would like to close these opening words by giving my thanks to you attendees as well as to all who make possible hosting this3rdedition of the AIMS Best Marathon Runner Awards Gala.
And as I said last year, we will do it thru
will – effort – work – friendship – solidarity

Thank you very much…

Paco Borao, President of AIMS