The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) today announced that it is scheduled to organize the second edition of the Riyadh Marathon on February 11, 2023, with support from the Ministry of Sport, Quality of Life Program, and the Saudi Arabian Athletic Federation, with the aim of encouraging all members of society to practice sports and physical activity. The Riyadh Marathon is the first professional race accredited with Elite Label by the World Athletics Federation where participants from across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the world, from both genders, will embark on a journey full of enthusiasm and big challenge to complete the 42.2-kilometer track around tourist destinations in Riyadh. Participants and running enthusiasts from all over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and abroad can also register for several races designed to suit all community members with different abilities and fitness levels across both genders. The event will also include a 21.1-kilometer half marathon allocated to running enthusiasts, a 10-kilometer race for those aged 17 and above, and a 4-kilometer race for beginners and children. Registration for the race will be done on the Marathon and SFA websites. An announcement will be shared across the SFA and marathon social platforms when registration opens. Top finishers and participants at the marathon will receive monetary prizes to celebrate their performance and accomplishment, with additional details to be announced at a later stage. The upcoming marathon will offer several dedicated virtual and on-ground training programs to help people prepare for the marathon. These programs will be scheduled and announced on the marathon website and social media platforms, where the event will include a Marathon village, open on February 10 and 11, where participants and visitors can pick up their race kits, enjoy food, entertainment, and recreational activities. Expected to attract over 15,000 participants, the 2023 edition of the event will build on the success of the 2022 marathon, which saw more than 10,000 participants from over 100 countries, where more than 60% of participants were Saudis, showcasing the enthusiasm of people across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be more active and participate in sports. The SFA seeks to meet the desires of all categories of the society in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through launching awareness campaigns, implementing major sports and cultural initiatives, such as the Riyadh Marathon, where holding such international sports events contributes to realizing sports targets under the Saudi Vision 2030 to make the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a global sports destination, in addition to enhancing the growth of sports and tourist economy and their role in encouraging the public to practice sports and physical activities.
