On Thursday, 8 November 2018, the Alternate Minister of National Defence Panagiotis Rigas attended the opening of the ERGO MARATHON EXPO 2018 and the press conference that followed at the Tae Kwon Do Hall, within the framework of the 36th Athens Marathon.

Furthermore, the Alternate Minister of National Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of National Defence and the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics.

The Ministry of National Defence, through the Supreme Armed Forces Sports Council, supports the organisation of the Athens Marathon and, with the assistance of the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics, has organised during the past four years a parallel event, the Military Marathon, which evolves into an international event.

In his address, the Alternate Minister of National Defence stated the following:

“It is a great pleasure to be here today at the opening ceremony of the ERGO MARATHON EXPO 2018 for the 36th Athens Marathon in my capacity as Alternate Minister of National Defence.

Representing the political leadership and the Armed Forces personnel, I welcome the opening of the four day event period for the 36th Athens Marathon, culminating on Sunday with the race.

Moreover, in a moment, I will have the honour and pleasure to sign with Mr. Panagopoulos, the President of the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics, an MoU for continuous and extensive cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence and the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics.

This MoU is based on two pillars:

On one hand, on the establishment of the significant contribution and support already provided every year by the Armed Forces for the Athens Marathon.

On the other hand, on the assistance we need from the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics for the development of the Military Marathon, which has taken place during the past four years as a parallel event and its upgrade to an international event.

The Marathon has always been a special and unique race.

The runners following the ancient course carry with them across the globe the message of participation, testing one’s limits, persistence, and effort to the end.

Consciously or not, they continue the efforts of the struggle of three important people with high ideals, who earned a unique place in history:

Pheidippides, the Athenian hoplite who, despite his exhaustion from battle, brought to his fellow citizens the message of victory of the few but determined heroic Athenian soldiers over the strongest empire in the world at the time.

Spyros Louis, the winner of the Marathon of the first Modern Olympics, a true representative of simplicity, selflessness, and fair play.

The great fighter for democracy and the promotion of social and political rights.The man who did not hesitate to fight the extremists of the time to defend the rights of the many.

So, it is clear that the Marathon is not just an endurance running event.

It is perhaps the only sporting event that, after many centuries, contains so many values, ideals, and messages.It is a bridge of Peace, Democracy, and Civilisation, connecting the past with the present and the future.

During the past eight years, the Armed Forces, through the Supreme Armed Forces Sports Council, have contributed to the organisation of the Athens Marathon with both personnel and assets.

This year, approximately 600 runners from the Armed Forces will run at the 36th Athens Marathon.

So, it is now the right time to upgrade our excellent cooperation with the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics and put it in a certain framework.

Our goal is twofold:

On one hand, to further highlight the Authentic Marathon and its values of authenticity and historicalness as a celebration of athletics worldwide.

On the other hand, to highlight the unbroken link of the Armed Forces to the historical start of Marathon runs, which now take place all over the world.

With these thoughts and with the hope of starting a lasting cooperation between the Ministry of National Defence and the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics, I am glad to sign the MoU and wish from the bottom of my heart all success in this year’s event”.