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Olympics 2024: the Marathon for all or when amateur runners follow in the footsteps of the pros

Launch of the Marathon pour Tous in Paris, with Kenyan Eliud Kipchog in Paris, D-1000 of the Olympics. October 31, 2021. AFP - ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT

Text by: Sophiane Amazian

5 min

In August 2024, at the end of the Paris Olympic Games, the traditional marathon will see the best long-distance runners beat the pavement over 42.195 kilometers. But the organizing committee doesn't stop there. At the same time or almost, thousands of amateur practitioners will have the chance to follow the same course, during the Marathon pour Tous. Places are very expensive and less than a year and a half before the start of the Paris Games, all eyes of registrants are turned to this unprecedented initiative.

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Last Sunday, during the 46th Paris Marathon, the first arrivals scrutinize their connected watch to analyze their time. Among them, Julien, in his forties, sits near a railing to catch his breath. This Parisian by birth multiplies the long distances, so as soon as we talk to him about the Marathon pour Tous, he reveals the basic rules: "So it's simple, there is an application on phone where you can be drawn by accumulating the kilometers," he explains before adding with a smile, "I think that three quarters of the peloton are registered and waiting for the draw. That's typically the spirit of the Games, you earn your place, you don't buy it."

Keep the faith

Equal opportunities for all, that's what the Marathon pour Tous promises: to try it, you must register either on the Club paris 2024 website or download an application, Marathon pour Tous. Participants can accumulate points by practicing a regular sporting activity: running, swimming, cycling. At 100000,<> points, each candidate is eligible for a big draw. Another way to win your place is to participate in exclusive events, set up by the organizing committee and try to hang the precious bib.

Many are waiting and clinging to their dream of participating in these betting games, like the trio of friends of the collective of "broken knees", who came to Paris last weekend to participate in the marathon. Martin, Valentin and Romain, who arrived at the same time on the line, have already fulfilled all the criteria: "We do all the challenges, especially those on Instagram. It's really hard. We do everything, so far it hasn't worked, but we don't lose hope. We still keep the faith" analyzes Valentin coldly, a hair disappointed. Observation shared by his sidekick Romain: "We have been registered for the Marathon 2024 game since October 2021, we all have more than 300,000 points, we want us to participate in this race!

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Three thousand lucky women can already wear their Games bib. Lorine and Corentin are among them. This young couple, adept at running, often train together. Lorine, 25, had the idea to participate: "The event in question took place last October, as part of a day dedicated to Paralympic athletes. We had to do a relay race in teams of six. We won this race and therefore the bibs. In the end, all the participants qualified so it's very nice," smiles Lorine as she stares at her companion: "I was seeded by Lorine who told me about this event. This will be my first marathon. I was convinced by this great opportunity to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games."

Lorine is one of the 3000 participants already chosen to compete in the Marathon pour Tous © Sophiane Amazian / RFI

The young couple, dressed as runners for the occasion, do not hide their enthusiasm to be able to live the adventure of the Games, like professionals: "It's crazy to be able to participate in the amateur marathon! When you run, you want to participate, because it's the first edition."

« Make sports practice systematic »

Opening the Games for all is the message that the Organising Committee of the Paris Games wishes to send. With the Marathon pour Tous, no entry criteria, everyone can participate. Two distances are on the program: the traditional marathon, open from 20 years old, and the 10 kilometers, from 16 years old, for less experienced candidates.

Alain Blondel is one of the designers of the marathon course for the 2024 Olympic Games. For him, this type of event aims to put the practice of sport at the center of the life of the French: "I believe that it is the philosophy of the members of this organizing committee and especially of the management to say, it must not be a sword in the water. There is always this shortcut to say that when you enter a long-term organization, it is like a marathon and not a sprint, "analyzes Alain Blondel, former European champion of the decathlon, before competing: "We took this bet, because people will be able to enter into a systematics of sports practice. Some will discover, others are already followers of running with this approach of coming to have fun and not breaking records. "

Running for fun, without sporting stakes, is the promise made to all the participants of this Marathon for All: "There will be no final ranking, simply because it is an event for all. The goal is to do 0 to 42 kilometers by crossing the finish line. The wish is really to open up the world of sports. A ranking would be the opposite of what we want to offer

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48048,2024 runners, spread equally over the two races, will have the opportunity to take part in an unprecedented event and experience, like the professionals, the fervor of the Olympic Games. For candidates not yet selected, it is not too late. A big draw will take place in early <> to allocate the last places.

Among the participants of the 46th Paris Marathon, many are trying their luck at the Marathon pour Tous © Sophiane Amazian / RFI

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