The Alexandrian Peace Run started from the Archaeological Site of Pella, a course that symbolizes man’s effort for physical and spiritual integration and his eternal anxiety for the good of peace and dialogue between peoples and takes place one day before the “Alexander the Great” marathon .

At the opening ceremony, the world champion, Polyniki Emmanuilidou, received the symbol of peace, the olive tree, from the mayor of Pella, Efstathios Fountoukidis.

“The symbol of peace that we deliver today, transmits to the whole world the eternal values ​​of friendship, the fellowship of peoples, love, tolerance and solidarity, the values ​​of respect, equality and justice” underlined the mayor of Pella.

He also emphasized that thousands of athletes participating in the Marathon are sending a strong message from Pella, that today man, the global citizen, can compete fiercely with each other and at the same time live peacefully together, harmoniously under the same roof of peace and brotherhood – and thanked all the institutions, workers and services of the municipality of Pella and the volunteers, who, as he said, “send the message that “sport is health, but also an offer”.

“It is significant and symbolic that between the two statues of Alexander the Great at the start and finish in Pella and Thessaloniki respectively, the distance of 42,190 meters is exactly equal to the marathon route” emphasized the head of the “Alexander the Great” Marathon organizing committee “, Ioannis Pananakis.

Greetings to the participants of the opening ceremony, organized by the municipality of Pella, were addressed by the Deputy Minister of Rural Development Dionysis Stamenitis and the MP Lakis Vassiliadis.

This was followed by a cultural program with the participation of 25 students from the Pella primary school, who performed the songs “In the river the cannon falls silent” (Manos Hatzidakis – Iakovos Kambanelis) and “Peace” (Mikis Theodorakis – Vassilis Rotas). Choreography with the Song of Peace by Yiannis Markopoulos was also presented. The Pella Municipality Philharmonic also participated in the ceremony.

The start of the Peace Run was made by Polyniki Emmanuilidou, who was accompanied by students of Pella High School from the archaeological site. The Peacewalkers passed by the Ancient Fountain and the Arch of the start of the marathon, in front of the Statue of Alexander the Great in Pella and handed over the Olive Symbol to the marathon organizing committee.

The Peace Run passes through the municipalities, through which the marathon runners will pass tomorrow, and will end in the afternoon at the beach of Thessaloniki, where tomorrow the winners of the marathon will be awarded.

In the afternoon, the municipality of Pella organizes the “Marathon Celebration” in collaboration with the educational group of Pella “Ancient Pella” and the Cultural Association of Pella “Eastern Romilia” at the Municipal Theater.

SOURCE: APE-ME