Twenty-two visually impaired runners from Jerusalem and Haifa will participate in the 5th Radisson Blu International Larnaca Marathon, which will start on Sunday, November 20 from Finikoudes beach.
According to the organizers, the Israeli team EYE CONTACT ISRAEL consists of blind athletes, visually impaired athletes and their volunteer chaperones, with all runners able to complete their effort with the guidance of their chaperones through the use of special zone connecting the two athletes.
According to the EYE CONTACT ISRAEL team director, Alon Shub, the goal of the team's participation is to raise public awareness of the importance of integrating athletes with special needs into competitive sports and to give blind people the opportunity to achieve success. in sports and to set an example of determination and courage to all. “If we can do it, then everyone can,” he pointed out characteristically.
It is noted that the work of sports teams for people with blindness is operated by the “Aleh Society”, a non-governmental organization of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which promotes various actions throughout the country for the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities in Israeli society , while after its successful participation in 2019 in the “Alexander the Great” International Marathon in Thessaloniki, the group of blind and visually impaired runners will participate in the Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km road races. of Larnaca.
As mentioned, Sunday's racing program starts with the main route of the Marathon Road (42.195 km), the Half Marathon (21.095 km) and the 10 km road race, followed by the routes of the 5 km road race and the 5 km corporate race, while the day ends with the Fun Race 1 km for adults and the McDonald's™ Kids Race 1 km, where hundreds of children will flood the Finikoudes beach, as in every event.
The Radisson Blu Larnaca International Marathon has been certified by AIMS, the International Association of Road and Long Distance Marathons, since the very first year of its organization, is the first “green” Marathon in Cyprus and has collected more than 50 awards in Cyprus and abroad, the announcement concludes.
