ATHENS ....July 2011

EXCLUSIVE DONOR EVENT "Spartathlon 2011", IS THE FOUNDATION "STAVROS NIARCHOS”

350 MEN AND WOMEN FROM 39 COUNTRIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS YEAR SPARTATHLON ULTRA RACE

THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION SPARTATHLON organizes this year the international long distance race "SPARTATHLON 2011." This is the 29th event of the institution, which will be held on September 30 and October 1, the sole donator of the Foundation "STAVROS NIARCHOS” (www.SNF.org), which supports the cause and the next two years .-

The route Athens-Sparta, a distance of 246 km will be covered by the participants within 36 hours.

In the race declared involving 380 athletes from 39 countries. Of the 380 who expressed interest in participating, were selected to run 350 men and women.

Many of the best long distance athletes will take part in the strenuous historical race.Of these there are many stars in the firmament of world ultra  marathon races. The participants are athletes from Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Greece. The Japanese is the largest group (with 63 athletes), followed by Germany (44 people) and the Greeks with 43 athletes.

The approval of the athletes’ participation is based on strict criteria, namely racing (at times and finishes at approximately international races), so as the race maintains in a high level.

Each athlete, who will be chosen to run, considers it as a great honor to participate in the historic race, whether or not he or she finishes becomes his or her ideal.

The Prize, in addition to international recognition is a simple olive wreath and a little water from the river Eurotas.

Foreign journalists and channels are covering this historical event, step by step and transmitting the results and events worldwide.

The private channel FILM NET - HELLAS will record the whole event and makes a two-hour broadcasts at the end of "Spartathlon."

An indication of great interest is the presence of channels (public and private) from countries with high participation, such as Japan, Germany, England, France, Belgium, Korea, Finland, etc. Also journalists from magazines and newspapers worldwide circulation are covering this unique historical event.

This year, due to the financial support of the FOUNDATION "STANROS NAIRCHOS", which after a short break, is again the exclusive sponsor of Spartathlon,  for the first time, an electronic recording of athletes in ten central stations will take place and the results will be displayed on the finish line and will be posted on the website www.spartathlon.gr, which radically upgraded.

THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION SPARTATHLON founded in 1984 and since then continuously organizes the race each September, because this is when Herodotus places chronologically the event of sending Pheidippides to Sparta.

The preparation of the race, for almost a year, now has professional standards for the organization and exploitation of the numerous human resource, vehicles are used, each engine and type, different equipment for the setting up of 75 refueling stations along the route, watchful monitoring of athletes for their complete security and for dealing with any incident, along with a framing of mobile medical emergency units. All people come from volunteers, members and friends who lie awake for 36 hours each September by giving the finest emotions in the service of this struggle.

Also a large group of volunteer doctors and physiotherapists and trained chiropractics specialized in racing, who are at key points, are ready to offer their assistance directly to athletes. The mobilization during the race is long (from Municipalities, Communities, Regional Hospitals and Traffic, along the race.) The labor to organize and conduct such a race as the Spartathlon, is tough and the responsibilities to athletes are enormous.

THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION SPARTATHLON is a non-profit organization. It organizes the race with its members and it is assisted by volunteers who undertake the recording of passes, giving assistance and supplies for athletes throughout the 36hour race, altruistically.

A part of expenses is covered by the participation of athletes and the rest from the exclusive donator the FOUNDATION STAVROS NIARCHOS "- for three years - and part of the outfit by private supporters.

The International Association Spartathlon, has members in many countries including France, Germany, United Kingdom (England), and Japan.

The difficulty of the route and conditions of the race have brought the Spartathlon between the two toughest long distance races.

Participants runners, their attendants and journalists return home with the best memories and become the best advertisement for our country.

Thanks!

FROM THE PRESS OFFICE OF THE ORGANISATION