Imagine sitting comfortably, watching the Summer Games, and thinking, “I could do that!” Well, later today, 20,024 amateur runners will get the chance to prove it by taking on the very same course as the elite marathoners competing for Olympic glory. This unique event, called the Marathon Pour Tous, or Marathon for All, is set to be a truly memorable experience.
“For the first time in history, we wanted to give spectators the opportunity to become participants, running on the same course and on the same day as the Olympic athletes,” said Aurelie Merle, Paris 2024’s sports executive director, in an interview with Reuters.
If you want to catch the action, tune in at 3 p.m. ET to watch participants embark on the 26.2-mile journey. The course winds through some of Paris’s most iconic landmarks, starting from Paris, looping to Versailles, and ending at Les Invalides, the historic site where Napoleon’s tomb is located. Runners will pass by famous sites like the Louvre, the Grand Palais, and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.
Later in the evening, another group of 20,024 runners will take on a 6.2-mile race through central Paris, making this event accessible to even more participants.
Check out the breathtaking route from a bird’s-eye view, and don’t forget to cheer on Nice News’ Olympics correspondent Raymond Braun as he takes on the race!
