For the first time in Olympic history, Paris is hosting a mass-participation marathon open to the general public. The Marathon Pour Tous will take place on August 10, the evening before the women’s Olympic marathon. On Wednesday, the committee revealed the finisher medals for this event, and they are almost as impressive as the Olympic medals themselves.
The Marathon Pour Tous medal features the official Paris 2024 Games logo on the front, accompanied by the logo of the race sponsor, Orange Telecommunications. The race date (10.08.24) is engraved at the bottom of the medal. The reverse side features a maze-like pattern incorporating the numbers 42 and 24, symbolizing the marathon distance and the 2024 Paris Olympics, with ‘finisher’ written at the bottom. Each medal weighs 150 grams and measures 85 mm by 77 mm. The identity of the designer remains anonymous.
This unique event is the only one in Olympic history open to the public, giving amateur athletes the chance to run a marathon on the same course as the Olympians. Entry was granted to those who completed various challenges, including outpacing Eliud Kipchoge in a 5K. So far, 20,024 runners have registered for the Marathon Pour Tous.
Orange Telecommunications, the race’s official sponsor, expressed excitement for the design and the event when unveiling the medals on social media.
“We are proud to unveil the official medals of the #MarathonPourTous of Paris 2024. Whether it’s the 42.195 km or the 10 km format, finishers will receive one of these medals to immortalize what could well be the race of a lifetime.”
The gun will go off for the Marathon Pour Tous at 9:00 p.m. at Paris City Hall. The nighttime race will follow the same route as the men’s and women’s Olympic marathons. The nighttime race aims to mitigate the impact of high summer temperatures, which can reach up to 35°C in early August.
For those lucky enough to secure a spot, this race will be a celebration of the Olympic Games and the vibrant city of Paris and will allow participants to bring home a really unique medal.
