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On August 10, 20,024 amateur runners will set off on the same course as the Olympic athletes for the legendary 42.195 km race! There will also be a large number of runners on another 10 km course in the heart of Paris. Here are 5 good reasons to attend!
1. A historic moment
For the first time, two "mainstream" running events (marathon and 10 km) are being held during the Olympic Games! Among the 20,024 participants in each event, there are as many men as women: a starting line-up that will therefore reflect the Paris 2024 Games, which are the first to achieve sporting parity.
Last but not least, the marathon will start at 9pm and the 10km at 11:30pm. These times allow you to escape the heat and enjoy a completely different experience, both as a runner and as a spectator.
2. See Paris and its monuments by night
There's something fascinating about balmy summer nights, especially in Paris! Attending this race is the ideal opportunity to (re)discover Parisian heritage by night, as both routes feature monuments such as the Hôtel de Ville (Paris Centre), the Bourse de Commerce (Paris Centre), the Opéra Garnier (9th), Place Vendôme (Paris Centre), the Tuileries Gardens (Paris Centre), the Louvre Pyramid (Paris Centre), the bridges of Paris (Pont de l'Alma, Pont Alexandre-III, Pont d'Iéna), the Grand Palais (8th) and more.
Please note, however, that the esplanade des Invalides (7th) is reserved for runners.
Marathon course.
Credit
Paris 2024
10 km course.
Credit
Paris 2024
3. Take in the atmosphere and entertainment
To delight the eyes and ears of the riders and their supporters, there'll be plenty of roadside entertainment. And it all starts at the start at Hôtel de Ville (Paris Centre), with music and lights!
Spectator zones for the two races (marathon and 10km) will be set up at the Carrousel du Louvre (Paris Centre) and Cours Albert 1er (8th arrondissement), at the foot of the Pont de l'Alma. An opportunity to enjoy musical entertainment and spend some time in the company of the official Paris 2024 Games mascots (only at Cours Albert 1er).
To follow the runners through the final kilometers, head for the foot of the Eiffel Tower (7th)! You can then walk along the Quai Jacques-Chirac to the exit of the finish area and join the runners after a fifteen-minute walk.
All-night transport
To facilitate the arrival and departure of runners and their supporters, certain metro stations on lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 14 will remain open throughout the night. The Noctilien bus network has also been reinforced (one departure every three minutes for the N01 and N02).
To find out more, click here.
To find out more, click here.
4. To support the runners…
Running a marathon is no mean feat! And the course is not designed to make the runner's task any easier, as it features several climbs that can sometimes seem interminable…
Not to mention that a time barrier has been set up to limit the impact of the race on traffic. You'll need to finish the marathon in under six hours to avoid being eliminated, which will not always be an easy task!
5. … and see the stars!
For both the 10 km and the marathon, there'll be some big names on the starting line. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the registered personalities :
10 km :
- Marie-José Pérec (triple Olympic 400 m and 200 m champion and last torchbearer in Paris)
- Émilie Le Pennec (Olympic gymnastics champion)
- Tessa Worley (two-time world alpine skiing champion)
Marathon :
- Amélie Mauresmo (former world number one and Olympic tennis runner-up)
- Martin Fourcade (five-time Olympic biathlon champion)
- Camille Lacourt (five-time world champion swimmer)
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