Marathon at 2024 Olympics in Paris to trace path of French Revolution

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
More
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Marathon at 2024 Olympics in Paris to trace path of French Revolution
People in charge of Paris Olympics at a meeting with French president
People in charge of Paris Olympics at a meeting with French president
Reuters
Competitors in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics will run from central Paris to Versailles and back, on a course designed to salute women and trace one of the pivotal historic events of the French Revolution.

The marathon route unveiled on Wednesday was modelled on the path of the October 1789 Women's March on Versailles - when thousands, mainly female market traders furious over the price of bread, marched to the lavish palace of King Louis XVI.

They forced him to return with them to the centre of the capital in an event that historians say ended the absolute power of the monarchy.

"We're trying to give some meaning to our events and choosing this course was a good way to do it," Paris 2024 boss Tony Estanguet told Reuters. "We really want to innovate."

For the first time since women began running the Olympic marathon in 1984, women will conclude the athletics programme, with their marathon coming a day after the men's event.

Organisers have also added two mass events - a marathon and a 10-km run - to allow non-Olympians to run the course. Each will be open to 20,024 participants.

"Our country proclaims loud and clear that high-level sport must more than ever be a source of inspiration for all generations while driving mass participation," French Sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said.

"Sport has the power to positively transform society: let us give it every means to do so."

The marathon course will pass Parisian monuments including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Palais Garnier, the Jardin des Tuileries and several world-famous bridges.

"Beyond a doubt, the Paris 2024 marathon will have something special about it. To perform in such an impressive setting, in a place so charged with history and symbolism, will be a unique experience," said two-time Olympic champion and world record holder Eliud Kipchoge.

"I could not ask for a more perfect race for the Games."

It will also be an unusually challenging route, with 436 metres of altitude gain.

"It appears to be more demanding than normal," World Athletics president Sebastian Coe told Reuters. "Clearly it's a marathon that will be challenging. But some marathon runners prefer undulating courses."

21+ | COMPETENT REGULATOR EEEP | RISK OF ADDICTION & LOSS OF PROPERTY | KETHEA HELPLINE: 210 9237777 | PLAY RESPONSIBLY & SAFELY |

France gouvernement

Les jeux d’argent et de hasard peuvent être dangereux : pertes d’argent, conflits familiaux, addiction…

Retrouvez nos conseils sur joueurs-info-service.fr (09-74-75-13-13, appel non surtaxé)

Do you want to withdraw your consent to display betting ads?
Yes, change settings