FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
London Marathon receives World Athletics Award Heritage Plaque
The London Marathon has been awarded the prestigious World Athletics
Heritage Plaque by World Athletics.
The award was announced on the anniversary of the inaugural race on 29
March 1981. The plaque is awarded for "an outstanding contribution to the
worldwide history and development of the sport".
Nick Bitel, Chief Executive of London Marathon Events, said: "We are truly
honoured to receive this accolade from World Athletics and it is a
wonderful tribute to the London Marathon and the work of so many people
over the years.
"Over the decades, the greatest athletes in marathon running have raced on
this famous course through London, setting world records and creating
history. That first race back in 1981 had fewer than 7,000 finishers. This
year we expect a record number of more than 50,000 people to cross the
iconic finish line on The Mall, raising millions for charity and cheered on
every step of the way by 750,000 spectators.
"We look forward to welcoming the world to the TCS London Marathon on 21
April."
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: "The London Marathon swiftly
captured the imagination of the British public, just as the New York City
Marathon inspired runners across the USA a decade before. The image in 1981
of American Dick Beardsley and Norway's Inge Simonsen crossing the line
hand-in-hand to win the inaugural men's race and Grete Waitz setting the
world record in the women's division two years later, quickly established
London as a race of choice for the international elite.
"The London Marathon is rightly as famous worldwide as a charity fundraiser
as it is for its super-fast finishing times and head-to-head battles at the
front.
"Congratulations to the London Marathon which thoroughly deserves this
recognition of its rich heritage and its legacy of better public health and
fitness."
The London Marathon was co-founded by Chris Brasher, who helped pace Sir
Roger Bannister to the first sub-four minute mile and won gold in the 3000m
steeplechase at the 1956 Olympic Games, and John Disley, who won bronze in
the 1952 Olympic steeplechase and later played a key role in the
development of course measurement. They were inspired to create the London
Marathon following a visit to the New York Marathon in 1979. More than four
decades on, their founding aims, which included "to have fun and provide
some happiness and sense of achievement in a troubled world', still
epitomise the event.
World records have been set at the London Marathon on six occasions, once
in the men's race, four times in a women's only race and once in the
women's mixed-race category, with Britain's Paula Radcliffe creating two of
those historic moments.
Ingrid Kristiansen (Norway) and Eluid Kipchoge (Kenya) have each won four
titles. Tanni Grey-Thompson won the women's wheelchair race on six
occasions and David Weir, who will compete in his 25th successive London
Marathon in April 2024, has won the men's event eight times.
The London Marathon is one of the six races which compose the Abbott World
Marathon Majors, a series which was founded in 2006.
Since 1981, more than 1.2 million people have completed the London Marathon
and more than £1.2 billion has been raised for charity. The TCS London
Marathon is the most popular on the planet with a world record 578,000
people applying in the ballot for the 2024 event and holds the world record
for the biggest annual one day fundraising event.
The London Marathon Foundation has awarded more than £105 million to more
than 1600 projects which inspire activity across the UK.
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