The sun-drenched seafront of Limassol came alive on Saturday as more than 10,000 runners, representing 250 companies and organisations, took part in the opening day of the Opap Limassol marathon. The event kicked off with a ceremonial start by deputy minister of tourism, Costas Koumis, for the Primetel corporate 5km run, while First Lady Filippa Karsera-Christodoulides, launched the Andrey & Julia Dashin’s foundation youth race, a 2km route for young participants.
This year’s event set a new record, drawing in a record-breaking number of competitors. With the second day of racing still to come, organisers expect a total of over 17,000 participants by the end of the weekend.
In his brief address before the start of the 5km corporate race, Koumis expressed his pleasure at seeing such events evolve from sports competitions to true celebrations of the city and the country. He added that the marathon’s success had a positive impact on the country’s tourism, attracting athletes from abroad. He wished participants an enjoyable run along Limassol’s scenic coastline.
Accompanying him was Andrea Takka, a student from Paralimni Lyceum, who won the essay competition titled “What Would I Change If I Were Minister for a Day”. She spoke of the opportunity as an extraordinary experience, adding, “We should continue holding events like today, which contribute greatly to tourism and the economy.”
Limassol mayor, Yiannis Armeftis, welcomed everyone to “the largest celebration of sports” in the city, highlighting the 5km corporate race as a great opportunity for participants to test their endurance, health, and team spirit. He thanked the volunteers for their invaluable contributions and encouraged all runners to enjoy the route under the sunny Limassol sky.
Spyridon Spyrou, chairman of the event’s board of directors, praised the marathon for its social character and its success in becoming “a celebration of humanity and volunteerism, with a rich charitable impact.”
In the Primetel corporate 5km race, the team from the Cyprus Ports Authority claimed first place, followed by the team from the Limassol passenger transport company (Emel) in second, and InDrive in third.
At 11.30am, the first lady officially started the Andrey & Julia Dashin’s foundation youth race, congratulating the young runners for their participation. She emphasised that the most important aspect of the race was the journey itself, not just the finish line.
Looking ahead, Sunday’s races are set to include the Opap marathon 42km at 7am, followed by the Muskita half-marathon 21km, the Petrolina energy race 10km, and the Axlebolt city race 5km.
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