100 years of the Košice Peace Marathon

Then, a few days later, on Tuesday, 12 September, the jubilee marathon will also be presented at the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where we will open an equally attractive exhibition that emphasises important parallels in the wider context of events in Europe over the past century.

Košice and Strasbourg will also be connected in one more way. On Sunday, 3 September, a charity relay race will start from Košice, and its 12 members will cover the distance of 1,291 km to Strasbourg over nine days to demonstrate the race’s messages of peace, friendship, tolerance and the need to help those in need.

The 100th year of the marathon will officially be opened on the eve of its start with a varied and interesting programme. Concerts and musical performances will be supplemented by two festive events. First, the World Athletics Heritage Plaque, which World Athletics President Sebastian Coe awarded to the Košice Marathon for its contribution to the development of athletics, will be unveiled. A few minutes after that, the marathon fire will be lit at the Marathon Flame Ignition Ceremony on Peace Marathon Square, in close proximity to the iconic statue of the marathon runner.

This opening programme begins on Saturday, 30 September, at 5:30 p.m.

A special train will bring runners to Košice for the marathon. The two largest cities in Slovakia will be linked on Saturday, 30 September, by a special train that will bring runners from Bratislava and all of Slovakia to Košice. It will set out that morning at 9:12am and will take everyone back on Sunday, 1 October, departing Košice at 3:50pm.

This exceptional train will also include an interesting programme. The journey, which will last around five hours, will feature a party carriage that offers presentations and discussions with a trio of speakers who address issues of training preparation, nutrition and regeneration.