Santorini Experience 2022 is preparing for its sixth year, as it combines new picturesque running routes while highlighting the cultural, sports and sea tourism of the island.
The event is also providing an established open water swimming route; ideal for amateur and professional swimmers and runners from all over the world that will visit Santorini between 23 and 25 September.
This year, visitors will have the opportunity to witness the Daedalic Kore of Thira, a rare masterpiece of Greek sculpture dated back in the 7th century BC.
The Kore was discovered in 2000 by the archaeologist Charalambos Sigalas from Thira, during a rescue excavation in the cemetery of the ancient city of Thira on the island of Santorini, and is now the central exhibit of the under-renovation Archaeological Museum of Thira. The Kore, muse of this year’s festival, is made of white Naxian marble of supernatural size, with a height of 2.30m and weighing 750 kg.
Another female symbol at the forefront of this year’s event will be two-time European gold medalist and Olympian in race walking Antigoni Drisbioti, who put Greece on the map of race-walking at the European Athletics Championships in Munich.
Dutch gold and silver Olympic medalist, world champion and 8-time European champion in open water swimming Sharon van Rouwendaal will also take part in the race, alongside British two-time silver Olympic medalist in open water swimming Jazz Carlin and the Greek world champion in open water swimming and athletes’ representative in the Hellenic Swimming Federation’s Board of Directors, Kelly Araouzou.
Olympian and European champion in the 400m running with hurdles Periklis Iakovakis and Greek-American ultramarathon Konstantine Dean Karnazes are two more names who have a lot to offer to the event.
Visitors to Santorini by ferry for the 6th Santorini Experience, are eligible for a 30 per cent discount with Blue Star Ferries, the event’s official sponsor. Participants are entitled to a discount for an additional three people travelling from Piraeus, the Cyclades and Dodecanese to Santorini and return.
Highlights from the schedule
- Run in the “Daedalic Kore of Thira” Half Marathon on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 07:45am starting from the Holy Church of Saint George in Oia, passing through the enchanting areas of Imerovigli and Fira and finish back to Oia.
- Run the 5km “Aristides Alafouzos” on Friday, September 23 at 18:00pm, at Akrotiri in Santorini. Starting from the church of Saint Raphael, runners will head towards the Akrotiri Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses in Greece built in 1892 and reach the westernmost point of the island, returning to Saint Raphael for their finish. The running races are co-organised with AS Ifestos Thira and EAS SEGAS Cyclades.
- Participate in the 1.5 miles “L & E Nomikos” Open Water Swimming route from the Volcano on Sunday September 25, 2022, at 10:00am, from the volcano to the old port of Fira, with the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation. Athletes will swim in the unique 1.5 miles (2.4 km) “L & E Nomikos” open water swimming rout, named in honor of the benefactor Evangelos Nomikos and his wife, in whose memory the “Loula & Evangelos Nomikos” Foundation was created, which built the visionary Cable Car 40 years ago. The route has been designed by the race’s technical director with Olympic and world championship swimming distinctions, Nikos Gemelos.
Discover the full schedule here: https://bit.ly/3eKmEfM
Online registrations are closed. More details about the routes and their technical characteristics here: https://bit.ly/3R84gfq
