The unsung heroes who are the backbone of the biggest sports running event were honored by the OPAP Limassol Marathon and the volunteering sponsor, the beloved restaurant chain McDonald's Cyprus, thanking them for their decisive contribution that contributed to the success of the institution for another year.
The Panos Solomonidis Cultural Center was filled on the evening of Thursday, April 27, 2023 by the inexhaustible source of joy and energy of the volunteers who each received special thanks from the organization.
The Chairman of the Board of OPAP Limassol Marathon and Eleven Blue Events Spyros Spyrou, stated that through this event, which was established six years ago, OPAP Limassol Marathon expresses its due thanks and honors “its unsung heroes, its volunteers who are supported for the 2nd year in a row by the official volunteer sponsor McDonald's Cyprus”.
“One can hardly perceive, at first sight, that without the volunteers successful marathons do not take place. They are the ones who take care of safety, of health, of feeding, of supporting and welcoming the runners, of our communication and the coordination of our actions. They showed their conscientiousness, defying the weather, the rain and the cold we had on March 18 and 19 and they were all at their post”, he added.
We are organizing, Mr. Spyrou stressed, the marathon, not only professionally, but from our heart, with our soul, with all our strength, to offer to the city, as our volunteers set us an example.
Mayor of Limassol Nikos Nicolaidis : «HLimassol is the capital of volunteering”
In his greeting, the Mayor of Limassol Nikos Nicolaidis said that this moving event “highlights one of the most important elements of the OPAP Limassol Marathon, volunteering”. The most honorable title for the city, he pointed out, is not that of the economic or sports or cultural capital of the country, but “the most honorable title is that it is the capital of volunteering in Cyprus”.
Mr. Nicolaidis mentioned that this year's marathon was a big bet because it was imperative to continue the success which, as seen in the result, was absolute. This success, he added, is due to the components that made the Limassol marathon what it is today: “a beautiful city that hosts it and a beautiful route by the sea, a strong support from the city's bodies – Limassol Municipality , EMEL and ETAL – an organizing company with experiences, with professionalism, with enthusiasm, which improves every year, the strong supporters, but the most decisive element is the volunteers, without whom no marathon could be organized”.
Standing on the side of the EVEL and ETAL organization
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of EVEL, Andreas Tsouloftas, thanked the volunteers and the organizing company “for the professionalism and flawless organization of this year's OPAP Limassol Marathon”. Finally, he assured that the Municipality, EVEL and ETAL will stand by the organization and will continue to support it.
The OPAP Limassol Marathon and the volunteer sponsor, the beloved restaurant chain McDonald's Cyprus, honored beyond 35 groups of volunteers including the Police, Civil Defense, OKYPY, rescue teams, the sports office and services of the Municipality of Limassol, rescue teams, groups of cyclists and motorcyclists, students, trade unions, sports clubs, but also individuals.< /p>
At the same time, institutions were honored which were financially supported again this year, as part of the organization's social contribution, such as the Karaiskaki Foundation, the “Little Heroes” and PASYKAF.
In the context of philanthropic nature of the event, this year an amount of more than 70 thousand euros was raised.
The organizing committee of the OPAP Limassol Marathon sets an appointment for the next event on April 13 and 14, 2024.
Register on the registration platform: www.limassolmarathon.com.
