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| Spartathlon - Ultramarathon race (From Athens to Sparta) |
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When:
Sep 28, 2012
- Sep 29, 2012
Where: From the foot of the Athens Acropolis to Sparta, Greece
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Every year, on the last Friday of September, the Spartathlon race starts from the Acropolises foot square in Athens. This is an Ultra marathon with the participation of more than 200 runners from all over the world.
The race perpetuates the heroic story of Pheidippides the messenger of the Greek army.
According to the documentation of the historian Herodotus from 440 B.C., In the wartime between Persia and Greece, Pheidippides was sent from Athens to Sparta in order to get reinforcement. He reached Sparta after two days.
According to the most known legend, from 490 B.C., The messenger ran from Marathon to Athens in order to inform the victory of the Greek upon the Persians.
According to this legend, he screamed "Victory" and dropped dead.
The participants of the race run between Athens and Sparta. 75 checkpoints exist on the way and the runners have to pass 246 km (152.85 miles) in two days. Incredible !!!
Athens - Online hotel reservations - [By Booking.com]
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IMPORTANT:
Please note that the details of the event are subject to change.
We strongly recommended that you check with the organizers
before making any travel arrangements.
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Event related information:
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Greece -
background and overview:
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981 Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
[Courtesy of The World Factbook]
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Greece details
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey. |
Languages:
Greek |
Climate:
Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers. |
Capital:
Athens |
Time Zone:
UTC+2 (Summer UTC+3) |
Currency (code):
Euro (EUR) |
Call Code:
+30 |
Electric Power:
220v 50Hz |
Tourist office:
Ellinikos Organismos Tourismou-EOT (Greek/Hellenic |
Tourist website:
Click Here |
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