Unprecedented number of foreigners: more than 40 % of participants from abroad. The event will be held on 7 April, start and finish venue in Piazza del Duomo. The opening ceremony of the Milano Running Festival presented by Sky will take place on Thursday. Special areas for fans (so-called “Punti Tifo”) will be set up along the route featuring DJ sessions and charity initiatives to increasingly involve the city.
Milan, 19 March 2024 – The record-breaking Marathon. After becoming Italy’s fastest and greenest marathon, the Wizz Air Milano Marathon 2024 breaks two more records: the all-time record in the number of registered participants and the quota of foreign runners.
With registration not yet closed, as many as 8,000 participants have already signed up for the 22nd Wizz Air Milano Marathon. Of these, 40% come from abroad: an important percentage that underlines the international dimension of the 42.195 km Milanese race. The most represented nations are, in order: France, UK, Belgium, Ireland and Germany.
The 2024 edition will be run on 7 April and was unveiled today at Palazzo Marino, located at the Scala Square. Moderated by RDS 100% Grandi Successi presenter Elisabetta Sacchi and Marathon ambassador and commentator for Sky Sport Lucilla Andreucci, the presentation featured Martina Riva (City of Milan), Paolo Bellino (RCS Sports & Events), Stefano Mei (FIDAL), Marzio Perrelli (Sky Italia), Tamara Nikiforova (Wizz Air), Elena Limido (Levissima, Gruppo Sanpellegrino), Monica Gagliardi (Arcaplanet), Daniela Pozzessere (RDS 100% Grandi Successi), Simone Demarchi (AXPO Italia), Roberto Crugnola (Gruppo San Donato), Leonardo Ghiraldini (NATIVA), Antonio Rossi with Ivano Brugnetti (Guardia di Finanza).
Numerous Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) were present with their Ambassadors, including the Laureus Italia Foundation with Boris Becker, the Italian Diabetes Foundation with Massimo Ambrosini and Rachele Sangiuliano, WeWorld the Olympic fencing champion Elisa Di Francisca, C’è da Fare with co-founder Silvia Rocchi and the Guardia di Finanza (the Italian Financial Police), which will be lining up various relay teams, including one made up of competitive athletes and captained by Pietro Arese, and others with former athletes and members of the Corps, in the year of the Guardia di Finanza’s 250th anniversary.
Many new features have been added to the race, which is included in the international World Athletics calendar and organised by RCS Sports & Events and will feature elite and amateur athletes from all over the world, on a 42.195 km city course.
WIZZ AIR MILANO MARATHON
The new title sponsor of the Milan Marathon is the airline Wizz Air, which thanks to its numerous routes connects Milan with the main capitals of Europe and beyond, making the event all the more international. This year, Wizz Air will offer to all runners a 20-euro voucher for the purchase of a Wizz Air ticket for one of the airline’s routes.
Today, in Milan’s always gorgeous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Tamara Nikiforova of Wizz Air, Paolo Bellino, CEO and General Manager of RCS Sports & Events, Martina Riva, Councillor for Sport, Tourism and Youth Policies of the Municipality of Milan, and Luca Onofrio, RCS Sports & Events’ Mass Events Manager, officially started the countdown to 22nd Milano Marathon.
Wizz Air has long been committed to pioneering sustainable aviation practices with the use of fuel-efficient aircraft, as well as investments for the reduction of environmental impact and CO2 emissions. RCS Sports & Events is also continuing its journey in the field of sustainability through the RunGreen project as well as the involvement of NATIVA – Regenerative Design Company, which supports event organisers in their evolution towards more sustainable practices. After having mapped the environmental, social and economic impacts of the Milan Marathon 2023, (link to the Legacy Report), NATIVA will once again support RCS Sports&Events in improving the sustainability performance of the event, with a strong involvement of suppliers, partners, sponsors and marathon runners alike.
Sky Sport is the official broadcaster of the event and will cover the Wizz Air Milano Marathon on Sky Sport Arena and in streaming on NOW. From the central Sky studio located in Piazza Duomo, hosted by Federica Frola, guests and visitors will have the unique opportunity to experience the magical atmosphere of the marathon day with live news and pre-race updates. Nicola Roggero, assisted by Stefano Baldini and Lucilla Andreucci will be in charge of the commentary. Furthermore, a Sky Sport 24 studio will be dedicated to the Milano Running Festival activities preceding the event on 7 April: news, interviews and all the enthusiasm and excitement of both athletes and families of the Levissima Family Run from the village located inside the MiCo.
La Gazzetta dello Sport is a historical partner of Wizz Air Milano Marathon and, with its vertical brand GazzettaActive, dedicated to active lifestyle choices and sport practices, will offer online advice and insights for running and outdoor sports enthusiasts. Also present this year is RDS 100% Grandi Successi, which will support the athletes with Paolo Piva and today’s moderator, Elisabetta Sacchi.
The presentation of the marathon’s Top Runners will take place on Friday afternoon after 3 p.m. at MiCo, in the City Life district. Official entrance can be found on via Giovanni Gattamelata – Gate 13.
Like last year, the finisher jerseys are made by Asics, Technical Partner of the event, all in environmentally friendly fabric. The jerseys will be handed out to all marathon runners who cross the finish line.
Let’s not forget the new UniCredit Relay Marathon jerseys, dedicated to relay runners, and those of the Levissima Family Run, also made from recycled fabric.
DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL IN PIAZZA DEL DUOMO
The choice of the new location, resulting from the fruitful collaboration with the Municipality of Milan, represents an important change, after so many years in Corso Venezia.
Approximately 19 kilometres will unfold through the city centre, touching on truly iconic Milan landmarks such as the Teatro alla Scala, Brera, San Babila, the Castello Sforzesco, Largo Cairoli, as well as City Life district and Portello.
The ring-shaped route is designed to reconcile the needs of all registered participants (top runners and amateurs alike) and will offer the unique opportunity to admire an increasingly attractive city in its combination of historical and contemporary elements.
Thanks to these characteristics, the Wizz Air Milano Marathon remains the fastest in Italy in the men’s field, thanks to the record set in 2021 by Kipyego Reuben Kiprop, Kenya, with 02.03.55, and among the fastest on the international scene. In 2023 victory went among men to Andrew Rotich Kwemoi, Uganda, with a time of 02.07.14 and among women to Sharon Jemutai Cherop, Kenya, with 02.26.13. The marathon runners are scheduled to start at 8.30 a.m.
FAN POINTS
The Fan Points (so-called Punti Tifo) will be set up along the route, with the aim of increasingly involving the city and its inhabitants, following the example of the largest international marathons around the world.
A total of 15 Punti Tifo will be spread along the racecourse, including four with DJ sessions, involving schools, sports clubs, Fidal Lombardia and the NGOs registered in the relay. It will be a way for athletes and amateurs to feel the support and warmth of the citizens, as well as an opportunity to enjoy a special Sunday in the name of sport.
UNICREDIT RELAY MARATHON
The Relay Marathon has a brand-new title sponsor: UniCredit, one of Europe’s largest groups and Italy’s leading bank. The Relay Marathon is now in its 12th edition and has proven over the years to be a successful format capable of involving a huge number of people thanks to the possibility of dividing the 42.195 km of the official marathon race route into 4 fractions, each between 6.5 and 13 km long.
For the 2024 edition, further growth is estimated in terms of participation, with a target of 4 thousand teams and 16 thousand runners. The registrations for the Charity Program, with 104 NPOs (Non-Profit Organisations) officially involved in the event, actually had to be closed earlier than expected.
These are solid numbers for a solidarity project that has raised more than 5.5 million euros over the years, confirming this Marathon as the second largest fundraising sports event in Europe after the London Marathon.
Among the most active organisations to date are Play More, Dynamo Camp, Sport Senza Frontiere, LILT Milano Monza Brianza. The collection activity will continue uninterruptedly in the coming weeks for all official NPOs.
Complete list on the official website www.milanomarathon.it/relay-marathon/onp/
MILANO RUNNING FESTIVAL presented by Sky
The marathon will represent the climax of a four-day sports event that will turn Milan into the Italian capital of running, with countless initiatives and activities starting on Thursday 4 April afternoon, the opening day of the Milano Running Festival presented by Sky at MiCo – Milano Congressi in City Life. Here you will find the Marathon Village, a large exhibition hub where entertainment, workshop-clinics, event and product presentations will take place. An appointment characterised by the coming together of business operators from the world of running, fitness and sports tourism, as well as open to active running practitioners and the public. A talk moderated by Federica Brignoli of the magazine F (media partner of the Marathon) with champion Federica Pellegrini will be held on Saturday at 2.30 p.m. on the central stage, followed by a Meet & Greet with Gigi Datome and Nicolò Melli (former captain of the Italian national team and Olimpia Milano).
A true celebration for the city, which will feature 45 thousand runners, not to mention the public, with increasingly important economic spin-offs on the territory.
LEVISSIMA FAMILY RUN
This is the evolution of the School Marathon, which in seven years has involved more than 54,000 children and accompanying adults, including 8,500 in 2023 alone. The event, organised in collaboration with OPES – Organizzazione Per l’Educazione allo Sport, is now ready toopen up to entire families, allowing adults to participate as well.
The Family Run, named after Levissima, the historical partner of this event format, will be staged on Saturday 6 April in the City Life area. The new starting location is the Maspes-Vigorelli Velodrome, one of Milan’s symbolic sports venues, and the finish line will still be at MiCo. The route is about 3 km.
DOG RUN ARCAPLANET
The Dog Run Arcaplanet, the event dedicated to dogs and their human friends, or “pet parents” as they are now called, is also scheduled for Saturday in City Life. It will be an opportunity to spend some quality time in the company of our pets while enjoying some sport along a route of approximately 2 kilometres. The start from Piazzale Alberto Burri in City Life is scheduled at 3.00 p.m., at the end of the morning children’s run, dividing the animals by size starting with the smallest ones. The run will be held inside the green area of City Life.
MILANO MARATHON AWARDS
As every year, a month after the race, the Awards will be held, closing the solidarity fundraising event. Compared to the past, not only the NPOs, solidarity companies, relays and individual fundraisers will be honoured, but also the runner with the best outfit, the largest running team, the most active Fan Point, the last runner at the finish line as well as the oldest runner, both male and female, as well as the Legends and all those who have run at least 10 editions of the marathon. Awards for other formats, such as the largest school and the most inclusive family, will also be conferred.
PARTNERS – The Municipality of Milan, CONI and FIDAL.
Wizz Air (Title Sponsor) // ASICS (Technical Partner) // UniCredit (Title Sponsor Relay Marathon e Top Sponsor Milano Marathon) // Levissima (Official Mineral Water – Green Partner & Title Family Run) // Named (Sport Nutrition Partner) // Nissan (Official Electrified Car) // Festina (Official Timekeeper) // Lenovo (Official Partner) // Gruppo San Donato (Official Medical Partner) // Arcaplanet (Title Sponsor Dog Run e Official Partner Milano Marathon) // GLS (Official Partner) // DANONE HiPRO (Official Partner) // Fit.Fe by Fede (Official Beauty Partner) // Douglas (Official Partner) // Moto Morini (Official Moto) // Mielizia (Official Supplier) // Nuncas (Live Partner) // MiCo (Official Exhibitor Partner) // Fruttolo (Official Partner Family Run) // Novi (Official Partner Family Run) // Calypso (Official Timekeeper Family Run).
Media Partner La Gazzetta dello Sport // F – Magazine Partner // RDS 100% Grandi Successi, la Radio Partner // Sky Sport.
I MATERIALI
LINK le immagini di repertorio evento 2023 – Giancarlo Colombo e LaPresse
PARTNER il materiale dei partner 2024
LINK le immagini di oggi in Sala Alessi al Comune (2024 – LaPresse)
PRESS OFFICE MILANO MARATHON
Ivana Capozzi – media relations e ufficio stampa
RCS Sports & Events
press@milanomarathon.it
m. +39 345 2475199
