Shortly before the start of the superstars
First disruptive action at the Berlin Marathon prevented
September 24, 2023, 9:57 a.m
Almost 48,000 people have registered for the Berlin Marathon, the stars around world record holder Eliud Kipchoge started in the morning. Shortly before the starting signal from Governing Mayor Kai Wegner, activists try to get onto the route.
An attempt to disrupt the event shortly before the start of the 49th Berlin Marathon was thwarted by law enforcement officers. Several people tried to sit on June 17th Street but were pulled away by police and security forces, a photographer reported. Traces of orange paint could be seen on the road. In the first pictures you can see last generation banners and logos.
This meant that the major event could start without any problems. Governing Mayor Kai Wegner gave the starting signal for Germany’s largest city run on Straße des 17. Juni in Tiergarten. A record number of almost 48,000 participants from more than 150 countries registered for the 42.195 kilometers.
In good running conditions with temperatures around 14 degrees and the sky was overcast, Wegner did not give the starting signal, but instead gave the starting signal with a buzzer. “A start signal via buzzer is much more appropriate in times when war is being waged in Ukraine,” said the CDU politician about not using a pistol. Last year, the then-governing mayor, Franziska Giffey, started the marathon with a starting shot from a pistol, and the photos of this were sometimes commented on mockingly on the Internet.
The four-time winner Eliud Kipchoge will once again be at the start for men. The 38-year-old Kenyan set the current world record last year in 2:01:09 hours. The best German marathon runner Amanal Petros wants to improve his national record, which stands at 2:06:27 hours. The Ethiopian Tigist Assefa, who was successful last year, is also there again; she ran within a minute and a half of the world record.
In the run-up to the start, Wegner called on climate activists to refrain from protest actions. The Last Generation group had announced that they wanted to interrupt the marathon. Members of the group protested with actions in Berlin throughout the week. A week ago, activists sprayed the Brandenburg Gate near the marathon finish line with orange paint.