Marathon Pour Tous: Paris 2024's mass participation race to be gender equal with 110 countries represented
For the first time in history, members of the public can run the same course of the Olympic marathon on the same day as the Olympians. The mass participation event will give amateur runners a once-in-a-lifetime experience in line with Paris 2024’s motto ‘Games Wide Open’.
On Wednesday 31 January, the Organising Committee of Paris 2024 announced further information about the Marathon Pour Tous - the mass participation running event that will take place during the upcoming Olympic Games.
The revolutionary concept - a first in Olympic history - will allow members of the public to run in one of two races that will take place on Saturday 10 August on the same course as the Olympic marathon. The first race covers the mythical marathon distance of 42.195km while the other is a 10km run. Each will feature 20,024 participants and will take place just hours after the men’s Olympic marathon. A total of 35,000 bibs have been allocated to members of the public who will now have the chance to participate in this historic event.
The first event that enabled runners to earn a place on the starting line took place on Olympic Day (23 June) in 2019 when Paris’s Place de la Concorde was transformed into a festival of sport to introduce the public to Olympic Paralympic disciplines. To mark the occasion, a 2,024m race was held with 24 bibs (12 for men and 12 for women) for the Paris 2024 Marathon Pour Tous available to be won.
Since then, more events were organised offering bibs as prizes, while members of the Paris 2024 Club were able to earn points for completing challenges that included achieving daily physical exercise goals.
Paris 2024 will also organise the Marathon Pour Tous Connecté where anyone can join in with the fun no matter where they are located.
“Just like an athlete entering the final stretch of his or her preparation before the most important competition of his or her life, whether you’re one of the lucky ones to have won a race number or you want to take part in the connected race, you’ve got just over six months to get ready,“ said Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024.
Paris 2024 Marathon Pour Tous: Two races with unique and spectacular routes
Paris 2024 Marathon Pour Tous: Marathon, 42.195km
For all those who are training hard to slip into the shoes of an athlete for the duration of an event, with the aim
of completing a Marathon
Information about Paris 2024 Marathon Pour Tous: Marathon
- When does it take place? Saturday 10 August
- Where does it start? From 9pm at the Hôtel de Ville de Paris
- Where does it finish? Invalides
- Where does the course pass through? Nine communes including Paris - Boulogne-Billancourt, Sèvres, Ville d’Avray, Versailles, Viroflay, Chaville, Meudon and Issy-les-Moulineaux
- How many people will participate? 20,024
Paris 2024 marathon route revealed: A challenging race through history and incredible monuments
Paris 2024 Marathon Pour Tous: 10km
- When does it take place? Saturday 10 August
- Where does it start? From 11.30pm at the Hôtel de Ville de Paris
- Where does it finish? Invalides
- Where does the course pass through? Area of central Paris
- How many people will participate? 20,024 participants
* Runners of the marathon must be at least 20 years old and 16 years old for the 10km, as stipulated by the regulations of the French Athletics Federation in force since 2022. These regulations are subject to change.
Paris 2024 Marathon Pour Tous: An event open to all
The Marathon Pour Tous will be a gender-equal race, with the same amount of bibs allocated to women as there are to men.
Both the 42km and the 10km races will be open to people with disabilities, regardless of the level of assistance needed (guides, wheelchair, joëlette, [single-wheel all-terrain chair], etc.), provided they are at least 16 years old by 31 December 2024 for the 10km, and at least 20 years old by the same date for the 42km.
“Running has brought me many things, in every part of my life. I’m so proud to be involved in the Marathon Pour Tous. Despite having a disability, I have my bib. I want to represent everyone who is deaf,” said Florence Talidec, a deaf amateur athlete who has secured a spot on the start line.
“I am absolutely going to run the Marathon Pour Tous. Hopefully, I will be healthy and I can be on that start line. I want to enjoy running it with the other 20,024 competitors around the streets of Paris, on the course for the Olympic Marathon in what’s going to be such a special Olympic city”, said Alistair Brownlee, the two-time Olympic triathlon champion (2012 and 2016) and ambassador of the race. “I think the best thing about this Marathon Pour Tous is I’ve actually got no goal at all, except just enjoying myself. So I’m going to enjoy the sights of Paris, I’m going to enjoy the Olympic spirit, I’m going to enjoy being on the course, and I’m going to enjoy being there with all the other runners.”
The Marathon Pour Tous website, Marathon Pour Tous Running app and Team Orange Running will provide news and information about the Marathon Pour Tous.
Paris 2024 Marathon pour Tous: Fact and figures
- 110 countries around the world represented
- A gender-equal race with 50% men and 50% women
- The youngest runner in the 10K will be 16 years old while the oldest will be 95
- The youngest runner in the marathon will be 20 years old and the oldest 85
- ¼ of the runners in the marathon will be taking part in their first 42.195km race