We move Berlin - and not just in sport!
More than 70,000 participants from over 150 nations, many of whom come in company, not only ensure top sporting performances, but also enormous turnover - for example in gastronomy and hotel business.
The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON also offers top economic performance, with around two thirds of participants coming from outside Berlin. Their stay in the capital is accompanied by considerable economic added value. In addition to the hospitality business and various accommodation options, the retail sector also benefits. As organiser, we are not only the employer of more than 90 employees, but also award a large number of contracts to regional service providers and producers - as for example, when it comes to catering for our participants. At the refreshment points, we only distribute organic apples from regional cultivation and Fairtrade organic bananas.
Motivation for the next generation
At the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, even the youngest can experience the joy of running together. We reach more than 1,000 children every year with the Bambini run, and we continue this commitment with around 10,000 pupils with the mini-marathon.
More and more children are not getting enough exercise, which has serious consequences for their physical and mental development. In addition to obesity and diabetes, the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer is also increasing immensely. Added to this are concentration problems and reduced self-confidence. Our programmes allow children, young people and their parents to experience the joy of physical activity. With the R5K tour, we have also created a programme for ambitious youngsters.
Living diversity
Equal rights and inclusion are among the core values of SCC EVENTS and the BMW BERLIN-MARAHON.
Wheelchair athletes and handbikers will find the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON offers perfect conditions for both amateur and elite sport. As part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the races have international appeal and media interest. Together with the German Disabled Sports Association and the National Paralympic Committee, the German Para Athletics Championships will be held as part of the event. SCC EVENTS is also cooperating with Special Olympics. Athletes with intellectual and multiple disabilities take part in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON - together we set an example for inclusion and an equal society.
Helping where the shoe pinches
Together with the Berliner Stadtmission (Berlin City Mission), we collect well-preserved running clothing and shoes to pass on to people in need.
Give your well-preserved running shoes, hoodies, training jackets or trousers a second life. Much of what is unused in runners' wardrobes is urgently needed by others. The running clothes and intact shoes that we collect together with the Berliner Stadtmission are donated to mostly unhoused people who are dependent on the support of the clothing store. This reduces social inequalities and conserves resources, as the clothes and shoes are used for longer.
Green mobility
In addition to a free BVG ticket, we have set up a discounted event ticket with Deutsche Bahn.
Whether from near or far, we look forward to welcoming participants from Berlin, Germany and all over the world. Together we will experience a festival of international understanding and peaceful coming together - this is also a matter close to our hearts. Even though we are aware that the journey of the athletes and spectators accounts for by far the largest share of CO2 emissions at a sporting event like the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. Accordingly, travelling to and from the event is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to reducing emissions. Our aim is to create a variety of options that offer an attractive and sustainable alternative for all participants. We are also dependent on the cooperation of all athletes.
At the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, all participants will be able to use all public transport in Berlin tariff zones A, B and C free of charge from Thursday (26 September 2024) to Sunday (29 September 2024) with their start number. This also allows you to travel from the airport. In addition, we have set up an event ticket for discounted travel by train. Of course, we also provide sufficient bicycle parking spaces.
Thermal blankets
For years, used thermal blankets have been pressed into bales in the finish area and returned to the manufacturer. The raw material is then used for production again.
The baling press is our champion in the redirection area. It is used to press the used thermal blankets into bales and return them to the manufacturer. The raw material obtained is then used to produce new thermal films. We do not use year-specific branding for the thermals blankets so that unused blankets can be reused in the coming years.
Drink supply
We offer refill stations for our own drinking systems at all supply points. We are also using more and more reusable cups, which are mainly made from renewable raw materials. Because one thing is clear: we want to keep reducing the number of cups that end up as waste.
At several supply points, we use reusable cups made predominantly from renewable raw materials, which we collect, rinse and then reuse. The remaining disposable cups are also collected separately at some refreshment points and returned to the manufacturer, where they are recycled and reused for production.
We are particularly proud of the introduction of reusable cups. Until now, commercially available reusable cups made of hard plastic were not used at the refreshment stations during the race, as they posed a safety risk for runners. On the one hand, they were considered too much of a tripping hazard, even if only a few of them ended up on the road and not in the bin or at the side of the road. Secondly, broken hard plastic cups with their sharp edges posed too high a risk of injury.
With the new SPRINT reusable cup, which was developed for SCC EVENTS by experts from the Alfred Wegener Institute and the company CUNA, we are using a reusable cup that poses no risk to our participants. The new cup is made from a granulate that consists mainly of renewable raw materials. If the cup is defective after use or has reached the end of its service life after up to 300 washes, it is recycled and the material is reprocessed. Another advantage is that the cup has particularly good flight characteristics. This makes it even easier to ensure that the cup actually ends up in the bins and containers after use by the runners.
