Madrid, Spain, April 29, 2013 - Madrid, Spain - Madrid has just hosted its open marathon, which has been one of the world’s most famous events of this kind since it was launched in 1978.

In the first race, 36 years ago, some 7,500 runners set off from the starting line. In this year’s event on 28 April, 26,000 athletes were there to listen for the starting pistol (6,000 more than in 2012), of whom 5% were women. The race has become a significant international event, with 4,500 athletes from other countries taking part. It is also part of a global race circuit: the Rock’n’Roll Marathon Series.

Before the start of this latest race a member of the parachute brigade landed in Madrid’s Plaza Colón, carrying the Madrid 2020 flag. This was one of the acts that, according to Madrid City Council spokespeople, underscored: “Madrid’s capacity to run successful and safe sports events of any size and at any level”.

The facts and figures from this year’s marathon will see it go down as one of the “most important events in the world of popular athletics, which takes the Marca España far beyond our borders”, the organisers say. “Participants in this race who want to get to know Spain and its capital can have a unique opportunity to do so by combining both sport and tourism”.

Every two kilometres along the marathon’s route through Madrid was marked by one of the 21 rock bands that helped to keep the runners’ pace up, and this music also attracted a huge number of visitors along the 42 kilometres of the race route. The event is also calculated to have brought in €12 million in revenue.

Sacrifice, perseverance, a fighting spirit and solidarity are some of the values that Rock’n’Roll Madrid Marathon represents, and it decisively supports each and every runner who decides to take part.

Press Contact:
Marca Espana
Media Relations
Marca Espana
Serrano Galvache, 26 28033 Madrid, Espana.
512-212-1139
[email protected]
http://marcaespana.es