site.btaSofia Hosts 10th Ekiden Marathon

The 10th Sofia Ekiden (Relay) Marathon - the only one of its kind in Bulgaria - took place here on Friday.

Nearly 500 entrants in a record 78 teams, representing diplomatic missions, ten Bulgarian Armed Forces teams , government institutions, business companies, sports club athletes and amateurs, took part in the 42.195 km race. 

The team winners were Interior Ministry Academy 1 in the men's open category, The Dream Team in the mixed category, the Flying Spaghetti in the fee mixed category, and Voracious in the women's open category. 

Sofia Municipal Council Children, Youth and Sports Committee Chair Dimitar Shalafov, who also chairs the Governing Board of the Sofia European Capital of Sport Foundation, and Japan's Ambassador to Bulgaria Hisashi Michigami greeted the participants and gave the start of the relay race at 9:00 a.m. in front of the Vasil Levski National Stadium.

The Sofia Ekiden Marathon, which is held under the auspices of the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria, traditionally takes place on September 6, the Day of the Unification of Eastern Rumelia with the Principality of Bulgaria. To highlight the occasion, the entrants are grouped in six-member teams, falling into six categories.

The marathon consists of six successive legs, of 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, 10 km, 5 km and 7.195 km.

In addition to the 139th anniversary of the Unification, this year's marathon also honoured the 107th anniversary of the world's first relay marathon in Japan.

The even is organized by the Sofia Europe Sports Club with support from the Sofia European Capital of Sport Foundation, Sofia Municipality, the Sports for All Association, and the 5kmrun Club.