The Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon will take place on Friday, February 28, 2020, as 40,000 runners will participate in Israel’s biggest sporting event of the year. A record number of 2,600 international participants from the UK, the US, Germany, Poland, Russia, Italy, and France are set to take part in the race, including a large delegation of elite international runners attempting to break the marathon record.
The current record was set in 2015 by William Kiprono Yagon from Kenya at 2:10:30 hours. Every runner who comes in under 2:07:59 will receive $40,000.
This year, the Tel Aviv Marathon will take the runners on a stunning, 42 km (26.09 miles) route winding through the beating heart of the city. The runners will take off at the Tel Aviv EXPO in northern Tel Aviv, continuing the route through many of the city’s celebrated neighborhoods, including Sarona, Rabin Square, and Old Jaffa. The route also takes runners along the white sandy beaches of the Mediterranean shore.
As in previous years, the Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon supported social and community engagements, encouraging marathon runners to participate and take advantage of their opportunity to raise funds for charity. On the official Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon website, participants can choose from a list of more than 90 charitable organizations to support and can create a donation page to share with their friends, family and colleagues.
Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor Ron Huldai said in a statement: “The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality is proud to promote sports in the city. We are pleased that every year the number of international participants rises, placing the city as an important destination for marathon runners from Israel and abroad. We welcome the 2,600 runners joining us from abroad to participate in the unique experience.”