Every year, thousands of runners from around the world usually arrive in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel, to run the Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon. This year, Israel’s largest sports event, will take place via ‘a unique and digital format’ on February 19-25, 2021.
The organising team noted that… ‘No matter where you live and love to run, you are invited to join us.’
The motto ‘All Running Together Separately’ is at the heart of the event, inviting all runners – amateurs and professionals alike – to excel and join thousands of other participants across the world at the same time, each one following a local course designed especially for him or her via a dedicated smartphone app.
The event, an initiative of Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and produced by Kapaim, will include the following distances: Marathon (42.195 km.), half-marathon (21.1 km.), 10 km, and 5 km. Participants can run their chosen distance from February 19 at 06:00 local time, through to February 25 at 21:00. (IST).
Lior Shapira, Chairman of Tel Aviv-Yafo City Council and Head of Sports, said “The Tel Aviv Marathon is the jewel in the crown of the Israeli sports calendar and we are always proud to host thousands of runners from across the world.
“We will run together this year in a unique format, creating a broad human mosaic of participants running together across the globe. Until we meet again soon in sunny Tel Aviv-Yafo, we look forward to bringing the atmosphere of Tel Aviv-Yafo to your doorstep. Sign up, put on your running shoes and marathon shirt, and run with us in February!”
Runners worldwide will be able to register for the series of distances online. Prior to race week, runners will receive a link to download a smartphone race app and participation instructions.
During race week itself, the app will broadcast a start line ceremony, offer interactive monitoring of marathon routes and race times, provide encouraging messages and playlists, and enable viewing and sharing of photos captured along race routes. The app will also design a personalized certificate upon finishing the race.
All participants will connect to the app during race week to run a localized route of their choice. Running routes may commence and finish next to participants’ homes, places of work or any favoured location.
Full race kits may be ordered and sent internationally for an additional fee ahead of the marathon. Kits will include: a drawstring bag, an official marathon running shirt, a personal runner number, a medal, a finisher sticker and ‘various gifts’.
Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon has also announced this year’s challenge – FEET ABROAD, HEART IN TEL AVIV – offering chances to win a free flight and entry to the Tel Aviv 2022 marathon. To be in with a chance of winning, participants need to order the official marathon runner’s kit, wear their marathon shirt and send a video or picture as they run through their hometown on race day.
In February 2020, over 40,000 runners participated in the Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon, including many participants from across the world. The marathon, recognized as one of the world’s top winter races due to the city’s warm year-long climate, saw participants enjoy a 42 km route winding its way through the heart of the city, running through Sarona, Rabin Square, Old Jaffa and alongside the white sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea.
Ronen Salem, VP Marketing at Samsung Israel said “The Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon will break borders and boundaries this year, taking place for the first time in a digital format and with tens of thousands of runners participating across the world.
“Samsung is proud to lead the largest sports event in Israel again this year, and to encourage runners to reach the limit of their abilities. I wish all the runners luck and primarily good health.”
The results of the marathon will be official and personal, but not constitute competitive race times. Accordingly, winners and runners-up will not be announced. A phone signal must be available during the race to operate the marathon app.
