Berlin. On 24th September, the German capital will host the
fastest 42 kilometres on the international running calendar for the
44th time: the BMW BERLIN MARATHON. No fewer than ten world records
have been set at the biggest one-day sporting event in Germany to
date. BMW is title partner of the record event for the seventh time.
Around 70,000 participants compete in the marathon festivities,
which draws around one million spectators along the route. The BMW
BERLIN MARATHON is the highlight of the extensive ‘BMW Laufsport’,
BMW’s running commitment. As at all major marathon events in
Germany, the BMW i3s (electricity consumption: 14.3 kWh/100 km,
combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) will be in action as the official
lead car.
“It is always a joy to see how tens of thousands of participants
and a million spectators create an atmosphere on the streets that
celebrates performance and dedication as much as the shared experience
of an international sporting event,” said Peter van Binsbergen, Head
of Sales and Marketing at BMW Deutschland. “The BMW i3, the official
lead car, and the plug-in hybrid BMW i8 are the peak of our efforts in
the areas of sustainability, environmental impact and future
viability. The BMW i cars combine efficiency and performance – a
principle that also applies in running.”
In addition to the enthusiasm of the residents of Berlin, the
runners can look forward to ideal conditions and promoter SCC EVENTS
GmbH’s perfect organisation. Title partner BMW will also play its
part, and as well as the BMW i3s, will send a BMW i8 (combined fuel
consumption: 2.1 l/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 49 g/km) as the
safety car, seven timing cars and twelve BMW E-Scooter C evolutions
(electricity consumption: 9.0 kWh/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 0
g/km) onto the track. On top of this, there will be a total of 40
additional organisational vehicles and shuttles.
Once again, the BMW BERLIN MARATHON has an outstanding selection
of top athletes. As it stands, on 24th September, the three best
marathon runners in the world will compete. Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge,
the 2015 Berlin champion and Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games winner,
is eager to break the world record of his fellow Kenyan Dennis
Kimetto, which was set in Berlin in 2014. The clock stopped at 2:02:57
hours back then. Another Kenyan is returning to the site of a
significant victory: Wilson Kipsang, the 2013 world record holder.
Kipsang had his big moment four years ago, when he improved on his
compatriot Patrick Makau’s Berlin world record of 2:03:38 hours with a
time of 2:03:23 hours at the 40th BMW BERLIN MARATHON. Last year,
Kipsang was ten seconds faster than his world record, but only did
enough to finish in second place behind Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele,
who will also be returning to Berlin this year.
With six women who have best times of under 2:24 hours, the
female entrants in the BMW BERLIN MARATHON are also top class once
again. The world-class sextet is headed by Kenya’s Gladys Cherono, the
winner of the 2015 BMW BERLIN MARATHON (2:19:25 hours). In addition to
Aberu Kebede, who has already won three times in Berlin (2010, 2012,
2016, best time 2:20:30 hours), three other Ethiopian women are also
competing: Amane Beriso (second in Dubai in 2016), Gulume Tollesa
(winner in Frankfurt in 2015), Meseret Mengistu (winner in Paris in
2015), and Kenya’s Valary Aiyabei (winner in Prague in 2017). Anna
Hahner (best time 2:26:44 hours) is making her marathon comeback in
Berlin after a long break due to injury. The brand ambassadors Anna
and Lisa Hahner are the faces of BMW Laufsport.
With their commitment, BMW Deutschland reaches a total of more
than 175,000 participants, and millions of spectators enthusiastic
about running. BMW is also partner to major international running
events such as the marathons in Tokyo and Shanghai, the BMW Dallas
Marathon, the BMW Oslo Marathon, and the Vienna City Marathon.
As in previous years, the BMW BERLIN MARATHON will be broadcast
live by ARD and rbb. ARD is scheduled to broadcast from 9:05 a.m. to
12:00 p.m. on 24th September, and rbb from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (all
times CEST).