By Grace Goulding
Picture by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images
Athletics
Is there a better way to connect people with the Olympic Games than letting them compete?
Paris 2024 offers runners from around the globe the chance to live this Olympic experience firsthand.
Held on the penultimate day of the Olympics, 10 August, the Marathon Pour Tous (Marathon for All) offers 20,024 amateur runners a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to follow in the fresh footsteps of their Olympic heroes on the same course where the world's top athletes will have competed just hours before.
Starting in Paris and looping through Versailles, the 42.195-kilometer loop passes through some of the city's most iconic landmarks at every turn, providing a spectacle for runners and fans alike.
Aurélie Merle, the executive director of sport competitions for Paris 2024, says the marathon route will be an "absolutely exceptional experience."
"If running a marathon was already an experience, running on the same course as the Olympic athletes, on the same day and in a magnificent setting and at night, promises to be a great adventure," she said in April.
The Marathon Pour Tous is not just another race; it’s a symbol of Paris 2024’s commitment to bringing the Olympics closer to everyone. Just as the opening ceremony spread across the city, inviting all citizens to partake in the festivities, this marathon invites everyday runners to share in the magic of the Olympics, running on the same streets where history was made.
Tamirat Tola of Team Ethiopia crosses the finish line to win the Gold medal and to break the Olympic Record during the Men's Marathon
Who, what, where, and when?
The organizers offer two courses, the full marathon distance, as well as a 10k option for those who prefer a shorter distance.
Starting and finishing in Central Paris, the 10k race is open to runners as young as 16. Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or a casual runner, you’ll be part of the Olympic dream, crossing the same finish line at Les Invalides.
The marathon:
- 42,195km loop linking Paris and Versailles
- Starting at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris at 9pm
- Finishing at Les Invalides
- Passing through 9 districts: Paris - Boulogne-Billancourt, Sèvres, Ville d’Avray, Versailles, Viroflay, Chaville, Meudon, Issy-les-Moulineaux
- 20,024 participants
The 10k:
- 10k at the heart of Paris and its iconic monuments
- Starting at Paris’ City Hall at 11:30pm
- Finishing at Les Invalides
- All in Central Paris
- 20,024 participants
This marathon is as forward-thinking as it is historic, as Paris 2024 has designed the Marathon Pour Tous to be as inclusive and environmentally conscious as the Olympic Games. The race is accessible to all and features sustainable innovations like reusable water stations and sports equipment recycling initiatives.
Participants get ready: "I feel a little bit like a kid in a dream"
Participants from all over the world are making the pilgrimage to take place in the historic event.
Vic, 39, from Ibiza, comes to Paris as a pacer for the marathon."For me, the focus is less on the performance this time and more on the communion between the runners and the city. The course goes through such beautiful places, with a meaning, going to Versailles and back, it will be emotional. It feels like a great way to involve everyone and make the sport bigger and better," he said.
"Running in the streets of Paris, where I have lived, in my country, during this special time, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I feel a little bit like a kid in a dream,” Vic shared.
This unique event brings together the competitive spirit of running with the camaraderie and joy of participating in the world’s biggest sporting event. “As runners, we all have a competitive side, but we also do this for the love of running, of sharing, of experiencing these amazing hard times alongside other runners, making friendships along the way,” shared the pacer, excited to help others achieve their marathon goals.
Kitdapawn E, a 65-year-old runner from Ottowa is excited to share the bragging rights with her grandchildren. "I'm just going to soak in every minute," she told CBC. "My grandchildren are still young, but someday they'll be able to say, 'My grandmother was a lottery Olympian.' "
The Marathon Pour Tous is the perfect blend of competition, celebration, and community. It’s an opportunity for everyone to experience the Olympic spirit, whether you’re running the full marathon or the 10K.
So, on that note — allez, everyone!
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