26th International Egyptian Marathon kicks off with participation of 38 countries

CAIRO – 11 January 2019: The 26^th edition of the International Egyptian Marathon kicked off at Luxor city with the participation of over 200 runners from 38 countries on Friday.

The event, which is organized under the auspices and sponsorship of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Ministry of Tourism, is deemed one of the most renowned sports activities around the Middle East.

Governor of Luxor, Moustafa Alham, held a set of meetings with the race director, Gasser Riad, to follow up on the marathon’s route and preparations.

The meetings also discussed all the logistic and road coordination and preparations required for the success of the marathon in its 26^th year.

“Around 200 Arab and foreign runners from five continents are taking part at the 26^the edition of the marathon, we also dedicated an event for people with special needs, who were honored by President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi recently,” Riad said, commending “the significant cooperation between government authorities that contributed to the success of the marathon.”

Riad considered the marathon as a message reflecting Egypt’s security and safety to the whole world.

The 26 edition of the International Egyptian Marathon kicked off at Luxor city with the participation of over 200 runners from 38 countries on Friday- Egypt Today/Ahmed Marie

“Over more than a quarter century, the International Egyptian Marathon has placed its mark as one of the constant tourist events in the Egyptian calendar,” Riad added. “This year, the marathon continues serving as one of the most important sports events in the Middle East.”

The International Egyptian Marathon is the only marathon in Egypt that is certified by the Association of international Marathons and Road Races (AIMS).

Last year, the marathon received honorable sports figures including, French runner Alan Mimoum, winner of the 1956 Olympic Gold Medal; German runner Ceirpinski , winner of the 1976 1980 Olympic Gold Medal; German runner Roland Winkler, winner of the 1970 & 1972 championship; Italian runner Gelindo Bordin, winner of the Olympic Gold Medal; and Japanese renowned runner Nakayama.

The idea behind the 100 Km Pharaonic Race, one of the marathon’s activities, came from a 1977 discovery by Egyptian Egyptologist Ahmed Moussa who while digging discovered a piece of rock telling the story of Pharaohs soldiers running a race of 100 Kilometers.