Global interest in the Crete Half Marathon

Preparation fever for the biggest sports event in Crete, a few days before the big day of Sunday, October 1, 2023. The Half Marathon of Crete – the great celebration of sports, culture and volunteerism – is picking up speed and everything is getting ready to offer and host, for something really very beautiful that many people would like to experience up close.

On Sunday, over 3,500 athletes are expected, in fact more than 450 come from 40 countries and over 1,200 athletes from outside Crete and from every corner of Greece. Also, more than 2/000 spectators-visitors and 500 volunteers are expected. Numbers that in themselves show the special position that this race now holds with its value.

A purely voluntary effort whose reputation has reached the ends of the earth, with its originality, authenticity, high level of organization and hundreds of volunteering hands, from people of all ages, promises to set the bar high and satisfy every expectation this year. .

Especially this year, the number of high-level sportsmen and women exceeds even the most optimistic expectations of the organizers. The surprises and the enrichment with new ideas every year cannot overshadow the excellent sports organization in every detail: From the hundreds of volunteers, the feeding points, the health support, the safety of the race, the wonderful handmade medals, the exemplary timing, the impressive awards ceremony inside the packed open air theatre, the beautiful t-shirts and the richest package in a road race, are just a few that we can mention.

This year we will also see a great battle, between the Nigerian Ogunsoto and Yagia, the protagonists of the spot of the Crete Half Marathon that exceeded 2,500,000 views in a few days. The rematch of the two will take place in the 5 km race.

But apart from the pure sports part there are other things that will attract the attention of athletes and spectators: This year’s organization of the Crete Half Marathon financially supports SOS children’s villages and the pan-Hellenic association “The Heart of a Child”.

The organizing committee of the Crete Half Marathon has carefully planned the preparation for the reception of the impressively increasing number of participants in all the 21km, 10km, 5km, 1km races and the disabled race and is cooperating with all the organizations and associations who support each other for the best possible result, having a phrase in their mouth: On Sunday, October 1, we have musafiris!

There will be over forty live music stops of all kinds and repertoire along the entire route this year, with the voluntary contribution of over a hundred musicians.

SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE:

10km start 8:50am

21 km start 9:10

1000 meters start 9:15

5km start 12:10

Start of the race for the disabled 12:40

Awards of Winners 13:05

Cretan Feast 13:45