The 5th Athens Half Marathon will be held on March 20, earlier than usual due to a standing demand by the running community in order to make it easier for the athletes taking part to find accommodation.

A joint press conference between the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) President Kostas Panagopoulos and Athens Mayor George Kaminis was held to announce the new date. Both said this would help launch the city’s tourism season earlier and also coincide with the spring break in western universities.

The route of the Half Marathon will pass in front of nearly all the main tourist spots and sights in Athens.

Panagopoulos said the aim of the organizers was to make the Half Marathon a “spring festival of sports and culture” and that the goal was to reach 20,000 participants.

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Background:

The Athens Half Marathon event includes three (3) different races with timing services and one (1) more with no timing services for athletes with disabilities and athletes of Special Olympics.

(1) Half Marathon Race (21,100m.)

(2) 5km Road Race NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE

(3) 3km Road Race WIND (& Family Run)

(4) 1000m Race (for athletes with disabilities and athletes of Special Olympics)

All the Athens Half Marathon Races start and finish in the heart of Athens, at Syntagma Square, in front of the Greek Parliament, running different courses in the historic city centre and passing by the main attractions of the city. All road races are held on secured and safe roads (see the relevant Maps), with the assistance of the Hellenic Police and of thousands of volunteers who offer their valuable services through the Volunteers Program of SEGAS, in which a significant number of volunteering organization participates, such as the Volunteers Samaritans Rescuers and Lifeguards Corp of Hellenic Red Cross, the Radio Amateur Association of Greece, RSF Hellas, the Voluntary Rescue Crisis Group, the Volunteers groups “ATHENS 2004 Continuers” and “Ethelousioi – Sport and Culture Volunteers”