The Beirut Marathon Association (BMA) has finalized the logistical preparations for the Beirut Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, November 10, 2024. This year’s execution plan has been reviewed, introducing several innovative ideas to align the race with the world’s major marathons.
BMA Vice President, retired General Hassan Restom, emphasized the importance of presenting an enhanced version of the race, which holds a silver classification, while acknowledging the familiar challenges. Despite these, the organizational process meets the highest standards set by international sporting institutions.
The team then showcased a video of the preparations, starting with Operations Director Françoise Nehmé, who highlighted a series of updates and developments. These include increasing the number of financial prizes for professional runners from three to five, specifically for the marathon (42.195 km), and the introduction of a mobile application, the Beirut Marathon App, to track race news and technical results.
Nehmé revealed that this year’s race will be limited to 19,000 participants from Lebanon and abroad for logistical reasons. The app will also be used for the 5 km fun run, with special prizes, including a car, awarded to those who use it.
The race distances will be 42, 21, 10, and 5 kilometers, and the course will remain the same, with some minor modifications, having proved to be the most suitable and comfortable for runners, and a factor helping to record better times.
After 20 years of organizing this event and achieving significant successes, the need for innovations and improvements in certain organizational aspects was acknowledged, considering global marathon standards. The operational plan will be proposed, and its feasibility evaluated.
Mr. Nadim Abou Alwan, Communications Director, discussed the promotional campaign, prepared by the BMA’s communications department. The race slogan, “One race with one heart,” remains unchanged due to its profound significance.
