Spectacular growth is in line with ambitious plans
The Amsterdam Marathon is preparing for one of the most remarkable editions in its history. The 22,000th participant entered this week. The number of entries at this moment is 7,500 higher than in 2009. The numbers are in line with the ambition that the sporting events foundation Stichting Sportevenementen Le Champion announced at the beginning of this year: to be one of the biggest marathons in Europe. The 35th edition of the Amsterdam Marathon will be held on Sunday 17 October.
Amsterdam is a metropolis with international allure attracting people from all walks of life, including runners. The many foreign participants, who often stay a few days to a week in the capital, give the local economy a boost. They visit theatres and museums, go out to eat and walk along the canals, which, at the beginning of August, were put on the World Heritage List by Unesco. These are highlights that make participation in this city marathon even more attractive. Moreover, Le Champion's many years of experience in the arena of organising sporting events and the strong collaboration with the Municipality of Amsterdam provide extra confidence that the ambition to be Europe's biggest marathon in 2014, with 37,000 participants, will be reached. Looking further ahead, the path that the Amsterdam Marathon is following with the Municipality fits perfectly with the ambition to hold the 2028 Olympic Games in the city.
At present the counter stands at 9,000 participants from abroad. That makes the Amsterdam Marathon The Netherlands' biggest one-day international sporting event. Great Britain is leading the list with over 3,000 entries, Germany currently has 825, Belgium 600, Denmark 515 and Spain 425. Many runners from Sweden, America, Switzerland, Finland, Brazil and Israel (175) are also coming. Since the Tour de France started here this year, awareness of The Netherlands has grown in France again. Up to today 1,200 French entries have come in. As a result of the start of the Giro d'Italia in Amsterdam last May, the city cherishes its strong ties with Italy. Almost 700 Italians have already entered.
13,000 Dutch runners have entered so far. The whole marathon is on its way to a total of 11,000 national and international participants. That is 2,500 more than last year.
The numbers are in line with the ambition that the sporting events foundation Stichting Sportevenementen Le Champion announced at the beginning of this year: to be one of the biggest marathons in Europe.
Entries are still being accepted until midnight 19 September, unless the maximum number of participants has been reached. Visit www.amsterdammarathon.nl.
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