50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON: Festive kick-off with spectacular stage show at the Brandenburg Gate
Numerous winners, BERLIN LEGENDS and personalities from the unique history of the race presented themselves on the large stage directly in front of the Brandenburg Gate and celebrated with the more than 10,000 spectators from Berlin and around the world. The celebration was also a thank you to the Berliners and the many volunteers who have supported the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON from the very beginning.
Welcoming speech from the Governing Mayor of Berlin
In his welcoming speech, the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, emphasised the importance of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON for the capital: “The 50th year of the Berlin Marathon – that means 50 years of competition, fun, and a whole lot of records. This iconic race, which started small and has grown to be one of our city’s top sports events, has been a part of Berlin for five decades. Credit for this accomplishment goes to Horst Milde, our ‘Mr. Marathon’ and holder of the Order of Merit of the Federal State of Berlin. When he founded the marathon in 1974, he made a lasting contribution to the world of sports and to Berlin as a sports capital. Today, tens of thousands of runners from around the world take part together with wheelchair racers and handbikers – right here in Berlin, the fastest route in the world. Over the years, 13 world records were set here.
The spectators lining the streets, the bands, and the many volunteers help make the Berlin Marathon an unforgettable experience year after year. Congratulations to all the SCC organizers of the 50th Berlin Marathon. I wish all the athletes a fast, fun race.”
Many good words and familiar faces
The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, with its 13 world records, holds an outstanding position in the careers of many athletes: from Uta Pippig, who went down in the history books in 1990 with her victory in the first marathon race through the Brandenburg Gate, to Tigst Assefa, who set a fantastic new world record in Berlin last year. Together with the BERLIN LEGENDS Tegla Loroupe, Naoko Takahashi, Irina Mikitenko, Patrick Makau, Paul Tergat and the wheelchair racing legends Heinz Frei, Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner, they presented themselves to the enthusiastic audience. The winners of the first edition, Jutta von Haase and Günter Hallas, also joined in the celebrations.
Jürgen Lock, Managing Director of SCC EVENTS, the organiser of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, emphasised: ‘We have 161 nations here with whom we will celebrate a great sports festival peacefully. We also have many, many Berliners and volunteers here today, without whom none of this would be possible. We say thank you for that. Including all of our competitions, over 80,000 participants will run through the Brandenburg Gate this weekend as part of the 50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON - that is the active lifestyle of Berlin, the sporting metropolis of Berlin and the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON.
This active lifestyle radiates from Berlin to the whole world.’ Christian Jost (also Managing Director of SCC EVENTS) added: ‘For us, having fun with others is the motivator for all of this. We like doing it because we are creating something for people here, moments that they will never forget. It's great to see the runners crossing the finish line with tears of joy in their eyes.’
As the founder of the BERLIN-MARATHON, Horst Milde said: ‘The most important thing, apart from the runners, was and is the spectators, the Berliners, who create this unique atmosphere. And very important is my wife Sabine, if it wasn't for her, none of this would exist.
Musically, live performances by London-Beat with ‘I've been thinking anbout you’, Lucenzo with their worldwide number one hit ‘Danza Kuduro’, Nomcebo Zikode and many more made the audience shake.
