The recent developments regarding the situation in Ukraine as well as the general concerns from our friends and colleagues have created a discourse in which the International Spartathlon Association has decided the following:
Spartathlon is an historical, cultural and sporting Event and an organization that values the Ancient Hellenistic ideas of Noble Rivalry and Fair Play as well as rewarding the participation of all Finishers within the required timeframes. The Organization is a big family consisting of people that prioritize those values and as such, as a whole, it values Freedom, Justice, Laws and Respect for our fellow Man and their Independence.
With this in Mind, we, as the Board of Directors, believe that the Athletes; members of our Family, cannot be held responsible for the actions of their Leaders, unless of course they, themselves, participate in those actions.
We believe that the Athletes hold the same values and moralities that we do. They have worked hard to accomplish their goals of participation.
Let us not forget the Hellenistic values of the Olympic Truce which clearly states that 7 days prior and 7 days after the Sport Event all warfare is to cease and all participants are to respect the Peace regardless of where they came from. We believe this Truce ought to be upheld within Spartathlon and as such we should accept Athletes from all corners of the World without discrimination. The Truce was – and it should continue to be – a way of maintaining a little of Peace, even for a short period of time.
Therefore, we firmly believe that the Truce includes us and, even for a short time, Peace must flourish. Thus, we should welcome all athletes from all over the world provided their arrival and participation is in accordance with the applicable decisions of the Hellenic Republic and the European Union. Perhaps, this could aid in the perseverance of Peace.
President for the International Spartathlon Association,
Evangelos Polimeris
