The organisation of sporting activities at popular Greek destinations has helped to extend the tourism season and brought additional revenues to sector professionals.
Among the big events in the coming weeks are the Navarino Challenge marathon this weekend, September 19-21, and the Spetses mini-marathon on October 10-12.
Greek American runner Dean Karnazes will again be participating in the Navarino Challenge, raising awareness about childhood obesity and highlighting the benefits of the Mediterranean diet and sports. The event includes a 15 kilometre run at Kalamata, and a half-marathon of 21.1 km and the 1 km and 5 km races at Costa Navarino in the southwestern Peloponnese.
Spetses will be hosting its mini-marathon for the fourth year in a row. At a press conference this week in Athens, the head of the organising committee, Marina Lyda Koutarelli, said athletes and visitors will exceed 10,000 this year, of whom some 20 per cent will be foreigners from 17 countries. Local hotels are already reporting a 100 per cent occupancy rate. The weekend will include three races, of 5 km, 10 km and a 25 km run around the island, off the eastern Peloponnesian coast. It will also have two children’s races, of 1 km and 500 metres, as well as two swimming races, of 3 and 5 km.
Source: ekathimerini