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Press Release - Berlin Marathon - 9/20/21


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                Return of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on Sunday             
    as the world's largest marathon since the beginning of the pandemic
	
- World's largest marathon since pandemic began
- A race for the history books
- Emotions, safety and joy
- Signs of cosmopolitanism, tolerance and acceptance expected

In recent months, heads have often turned towards Berlin. Lighthouse 
running events like the adidas Runners City Night and the GENERALI BERLIN 
HALF MARATHON by organizer SCC EVENTS attracted interest. But this week all 
that will be surpassed by far. All eyes of the (sports-) world are focused 
on the German capital, where next weekend's #restartunning will celebrate 
the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON as the world's biggest marathon since the pandemic 
began. Once again, sports history will be made on the Spree, that's for 
sure - even before the starting gun goes off.

How important the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is as an emotional input for the 
entire society was emphasized by Jürgen Lock in his function as managing 
director of SCC EVENTS at today's press conference to kick off the marathon 
week. "Months ago, we already set ourselves the challenge of organizing a 
safely BMW BERLIN-MARATHON in the fall of 2021. We have managed to do that. 
This race has great significance. We want to see the community running and 
laughing again."

After months of deprivation and social distance, SCC EVENTS is setting a 
crucial milestone with the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Through sport, people 
regain confidence and trust, and inhibitions are reduced. Basic values such 
as openness to the world, tolerance and acceptance can finally be lived 
again. On the way back to normality, society needs precisely these 
emotions. But Lock also emphasized quite clearly that the steps to get here 
were not easy. The circumstances of the pandemic, including short-time 
work, presented hurdles for SCC EVENTS, which were mastered in the 
company's own team and through dialog with external specialists. In this 
way, SCC EVENTS also developed the sophisticated hygiene concept on which 
the event was ultimately based, allowing for a safe BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. "A 
very good, trusting cooperation with the city, especially with the Senate 
Department for the Interior and Sport, made it possible for us to start 
this weekend," explained Jürgen Lock, who also thanked all partners and 
other Berlin authorities. The Berlin hygiene concept of SCC EVENTS is based 
on the "Three Gs": Anyone who goes to the start must either be vaccinated, 
recovered or tested negative by PCR test and provide proof of this. 
Spectators along the course are requested to keep their distance and to 
wear a mouth-nose protection.

With regard to the federal and parliamentary elections, the organizer sees 
no problems after months of coordination processes with the institutions. 
More than 30 additional crossings will allow access to the polling stations 
located along the route (this already proved successful four years ago when 
elections and the marathon were also held at the same time). More details 
can be found on the interactive map. The point of sustainability, which is 
becoming increasingly important for SCC EVENTS, was also addressed during 
the press conference. The relatively fresh cooperation with the WWF and the 
hydratiom system project initiated for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON make the 
previous environmental protection measures even more effective. The 
cooperation with the environmental management EMAS will be continued.
The RUN FOR JOY campaign underlines the high emotional standard of the 
first race of the AWMM series after the beginning of the pandemic. It 
offers participants and the entire community various opportunities to 
experience the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON in all its facets, to participate and 
enjoy it with joy.

The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON not only attracts an incredible amount of interest 
from the press, with currently around 500 accredited media representatives, 
but also from amateur and professional athletes. About 25,000 participants 
are expected at the starting line on race Sunday (about 2,800 skaters on 
Saturday), among them absolute top-class athletes of the running scene, 
when it is said: "The long-awaited restart of running together. Of course, 
safely!"

The Ethiopian superstar Kenenisa Bekele heads the men’s entry while his 
compatriot Hiwot Gebrekidan is an equally strong contender for the women’s 
title. If Kenenisa Bekele can summon similar form to that which he showed 
on the streets of Berlin two years ago when he came within two seconds of 
the world record with his time of 2:01:41, a very fast and dramatic title 
defence should be in prospect. The women’s race also offers potential for a 
top time, given the presence of Hiwot Gebrekidan in Berlin, who has run the 
fastest women’s marathon in the world this year in taking the Milan title 
with a personal best of 2:19:35. Good strength in depth is also a keynote 
of both elite fields: the men feature a dozen runners with personal bests 
of sub-2:07 while the women’s field shows five who have run under 2:25 and 
another four sub-2:30. Two of Germany’s leading marathoners will be 
competing on Sunday: Philipp Pflieger and Rabea Schöneborn, the latter 
competing in her home city. 

The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON forms the Abbott World Marathon Majors series 
together with the races in Boston, Chicago, London, New York and Tokyo. It 
is Germany’s biggest and most spectacular road race.  The BMW 
BERLIN-MARATHON will take place under strict hygiene rules after the 2020 
edition had to be cancelled because of the Corona pandemic. Given the 
continuing conditions imposed by the pandemic, the number of starters for 
this year has been considerably reduced. Two years ago the BMW 
BERLIN-MARATHON registered a record 43,987 finishers who ran through the 
Brandenburg Gate to the finish line. This year around 25,000 runners are 
expected to compete. This number would make the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON the 
biggest marathon worldwide since the Corona pandemic began. 

The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON has an unparalleled history in terms of the eleven 
world records broken on its course. Marathon landmarks in history have been 
achieved here, firstly in 2001 when Japan’s Olympic champion Naoko 
Takahashi ran 2:19:46 to become the first woman to break 2:20; then two 
years later when Paul Tergat became the first man to break 2:05 when the 
Kenyan won in 2:04:55. The current men’s world record was also set at the 
BMW BERLIN-MARATHON when Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya ran 2:01:39. 

Women
Surname    Lastname      Nationality   PB
Hiwot      Gebrekidan    ETH           2:19:35
Shure      Demise        ETH           2:20:59
Ruth       Chebitok      KEN           2:23:29
Bethelhem  Moges         ETH           2:23:38
Fancy      Chemutai      KEN           2:24:27


Men
Surname    Lastname      Nationality   PB
Kenenisa   Bekele        ETH           2:01:41
Guye       Adola         ETH           2:03:36
Philemon   Kacheran      KEN           2:06:05
Festus     Talam         KEN           2:06:13
Tadu       Abate         ETH           2:06:13



Event week schedule of the 2021 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON

Press conference presentation Elite athletes Part 1

    - Date: September 23, 2021
    - Clock: ca. 11.00 a.m.
    - Participants: Elite women (Hiwot Gebrekidan [ETH], Shure Demise 
[ETH], Rabea Schöneborn), Pascal Briand, Jason Suttels, Doucelin Pédicone, 
Jürgen Lock (CEO SCC EVENTS), Mark Milde (Race Director)
    - Topics: Hygiencal concept, Start of the EXPO, Outlook for the BMW 
BERLIN-MARATHON weekend, Presentation of the Elite runners (women) and 
Elite Inline skater, general topics
    - Place: Hotel InterContinental, Room "Pavillon"

MARATHON EXPO

    - Date: from September 23 to September 25, 2021
    - Clock: from 3.30 p.m. (Sept 23) / other Opening hours here
    - Topics: All participants pick up their race kits in person at the 
EXPO; participants who have not been vaccinated against Covid19 or 
recovered from the disease receive the mandatory pre-race PCR test there; 
information from national and international exhibitors about lifestyle, 
sports, wellness, health and nutrition; official collection of the BMW 
BERLIN MARATHON 
    - Place: former airport Tempelhof; Platz der Luftbrücke 5, 12101 Berlin

Press conference Elite athletes Part 2

    - Date: September 24, 2021
    - Clock: 11.00 a.m.
    - Participants: Elite runners men  (Kenenisa Bekele [ETH], Guye Adola 
[ETH], Philipp Pflieger), Manuela Schär,  Merle Menje, Marcel Hug, Daniel 
Romanchuk  Jürgen Lock (CEO SCC EVENTS), Mark Milde (Race Director)
    - Topics: Hygiencal concept, EXPO, Outlook for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 
weekend, Presentation of the Elite runners (men) and Elite wheelchair 
athletes and handbiker, general topics, wheather forecast
    - Place: Hotel InterContinental, Room "Pavillon"

BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline skating 2021

    - Date: September 25, 2021
    - Clock:  3.30 p.m.
    - Topic: Start
    - Place: Straße des 17. Juni

Press conference winner Inline skating

    - Date: September 25, 2021
    - Clock: ca. 6.30 p.m.
    - Participants: Winner of the 2021 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline skating
    - Place: Hotel InterContinental, Room "Pavillon"

BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2021

    - Date: September 26, 2021
    - Clock:  first start 8.50 a.m. (more starting times)
    - Topic: Start
    - Place: Straße des 17. Juni

Press conference Winner Running, wheelchair competition and handbikers

    - Date: September 26, 2021
    - Clock: ca. 12.30 p.m.
    - Participants: Winner of the 2021 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON (Running, 
wheelchair, handbike)
    - Place: Hotel InterContinental, Room "Pavillon"


Follow the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on Facebook and Instagram. 
 
                                     ###


 

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