"Although we are a department that was founded only 4 years ago, we are constantly trying to leave a positive mark and an active footprint in the running events of our country. At the same time, however, we wanted our effort not to be a dry and sterile sporting activity. Representing a refugee association, we sought symbolism that would reinforce the messages we wanted to highlight through our initiative."
"Unfinished. Because while every marathon in Famagusta has as an obvious and foreseen finish line the GSE stadium, the Turkish occupation of our city prevents us from doing so. Therefore, our 'finish' will take place at the barricade of Deryneia, having covered a distance of only 36 km out of the 42.2 km of the actual route, since the remaining 6.2 km (from the barricade to the GCC) cannot be covered, precisely because of the occupation.[/B] Runners from most of our country's running groups (Apoel, Omonia, Dromea Racing, Run for Autism, Eu Zine, Stelios Kyriakidis) run with us, wearing the jerseys of their sections, emphasizing the diversity of our starting points, whether social, political or in terms of origin, but they finish with us wearing the common jersey of the unfinished marathon, highlighting the unifying message of the effort and the common goal of highlighting the only obstacle that does not allow us to reach the GSE, that of the occupation and the presence of the Turkish army that keeps our city in bondage.
Ecological. Because its day coincides with World Environment Day. In cooperation with the office of the Commissioner for the Environment we plant two large olive trees in the surrounding area of the cultural centre of Famagusta Municipality in Deryneia. But at the same time again deeply symbolic in this expression and action, as these two large olive trees are transplanted from Deneia to Deryneia and highlight the struggle of our people to remain rooted in their birthplace. And they are planted in such a way as to create an arch, the arch of expectation, through which we can pass in order to move towards the true end. Olive trees...Trees blessed, peaceful yet sturdy and proud...
Hard. For it is consciously becoming summer... Our land knows the hardness, bitterness and pain of summer. It knows that the most carefree time of the year, for Cyprus and for Famagusta, mean at the same time mourning, sighing and tears.[/B] Because each kilometre of the route is named after an athlete of the Evagoras Gymnastics Club (GSE), honouring some of those who added glory and grandeur to the sporting events of Famagusta both before the invasion and during the refugee period. The last part of the route, which we will run together, runners and public, children and adults, has been named the 'Antonis Papadopoulos - Niki Georgiou' part of the route, wanting to honor equally the two-headed sportsmen of our city, the figures-symbols of Anorthosis and Nea Salamina, highlighting in this way the unifying message of the initiative.
Unfinished Famagusta Marathon then...[/B]
Embrace it. Strengthen it. Highlight it.
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