380 runners join grueling course at Spartathlon ultramarathon

STORY: 380 runners join grueling course at Spartathlon ultramarathon DATELINE: Oct. 2, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:44 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the race 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): DIETMAR GOEBEL, Spartathlon athlete 3. various of the race 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): THOMAS KOENEXL, Spartathlon athlete STORYLINE: The 41st edition of the Spartathlon ultramarathon race was held over the weekend. Some 380 runners from 50 countries and regions finished the 245-kilometer event from Athens to Sparta in southern Greece. Following the footsteps of the ancient Greek soldier Pheidippides, their common goal was to cross the finish line on Sunday. According to ancient Greek historians, in 490 BC, ahead of the battle of Marathon against the Persian forces, Pheidippides ran from Athens to Sparta to request support. He reached his destination on foot nonstop within two days. In 1982, three British runners set off to test whether the references were correct, leading to the establishment of the event.

40th Spartathlon ultramarathon race held at foot of Athens Acropolis

STORY: 40th Spartathlon ultramarathon race held at foot of Athens Acropolis DATELINE: Oct. 1, 2022 LENGTH: 0:01:05 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Spartathlon ultramarathon race 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NIEDZIELSKI ROBERT, Runner 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): HILDE DOSOGNE, Runner 4. various of Spartathlon ultramarathon race STORYLINE: The 40th Spartathlon ultramarathon race started on Friday at the foot of the Athens Acropolis, with 353 runners from 48 countries and regions participating in the 245-km course from Athens to Sparta in southern Greece. Following the footsteps of the ancient Greek soldier Pheidippides, they aim to cross the finish line on Saturday. About one-third of participants achieve this, according to the international "SPARTATHLON" association, which organizes the event under the auspices of the Greek Ministries of Tourism and National Defense. According to ancient Greek historians, in 490 BC, ahead of the battle of Marathon against the Persian forces, Pheidipp

(SP)GREECE-ATHENS-SPARTATHLON ULTRAMARATHON

(SP)GREECE-ATHENS-SPARTATHLON ULTRAMARATHON

(221001) -- ATHENS, Oct. 1, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Athletes set off at the starting line of the Spartathlon ultramarathon at the foot of the Athens Acropolis in Athens, Greece, Sept. 30, 2022. TO GO WITH "40th Spartathlon ultramarathon race kicks off at foot of Athens Acropolis". (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)

(SP)GREECE-ATHENS-SPARTATHLON ULTRAMARATHON

(SP)GREECE-ATHENS-SPARTATHLON ULTRAMARATHON

(221001) -- ATHENS, Oct. 1, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Passers-by encourage the athletes of the Spartathlon ultramarathon in Athens, Greece, Sept. 30, 2022. TO GO WITH "40th Spartathlon ultramarathon race kicks off at foot of Athens Acropolis". (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)

(SP)GREECE-ATHENS-SPARTATHLON ULTRAMARATHON

(SP)GREECE-ATHENS-SPARTATHLON ULTRAMARATHON

(221001) -- ATHENS, Oct. 1, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Athletes compete during the Spartathlon ultramarathon in Athens, Greece, Sept. 30, 2022. TO GO WITH "40th Spartathlon ultramarathon race kicks off at foot of Athens Acropolis". (Photo by Lefteris Partsalis/Xinhua)