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31 October 2019
The Swiss race will be presented with the Award at the 2019 AIMS Best Marathon Runner Gala
The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), the member organisation representing more than 460 of the world’s leading distance races is pleased to announce the Harmony Geneva Marathon for Unicef (https://www.harmonygenevemarathon.com/en/) from Switzerland will receive the 2019 AIMS Social Award.
The award, which recognises races working towards achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations*, will be presented during the seventh annual AIMS ‘Best Marathon Runner’ (BMR) Awards Gala to be held in the birthplace of the Marathon in Athens, Greece on 8 November 2019.
The two other shortlisted races were the Dhiraagu Maldives Road Race (Maldives) – 2nd & the Kingston City Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K (Jamaica) – 3rd.
Since 2010 the Harmony Geneva Marathon has been in partnership with Unicef, supporting the program ‘WASH: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene’ and their Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring access to water sanitation for all. To date the race has raised more than 440,000 Swiss Francs which has financed the installation of 1,000 water pumps in different countries. From 2020, the Harmony Geneva Marathon for UNICEF will support UNICEF Malawi to provide solar water pumps – a reliable, sustainable, user friendly and green technology solution for rural communities.
In addition, the race manages a clothes collection point in the Marathon Village in association with the organisation Bilifou (www.bilifou.ch) to benefit young people in Burkino Faso. This partnership has seen over 1,000kgs of clothes collected. Other activities with disabled people and refugees are managed by the organisation in order to include everyone in the event.
Benjamin Chandelier, Harmony Geneva Marathon for Unicef Director comments: “The Harmony Geneva Marathon for Unicef has a long and proud history of working together with Unicef to benefit communities in different countries. We have ambitious goals the future and look forward to sharing our story with AIMS. We would like to thank AIMS, their partners and sponsors for presenting us with this award. This event couldn’t take place without our 1,000 volunteers, or the unwavering support of the Canton and City of Geneva as well as Chêne-Bourg who hosted the start of our races and all the villages we cross through on the beautiful course. Finally, I would also like to thank all our partners for their ongoing support and commitment”.
Paco Borao, AIMS President comments: “The Harmony Geneva Marathon for Unicef is a great example of a race helping communities in need on another continent. Their successes are clear and their plans are exciting. Everyone at AIMS wishes them every success in the future."
About the AIMS ‘Best Marathon Runner’ Awards Gala
The purpose of the BMR Award Gala is to:
I. Announce and honour the best male and female Marathon runners of the year through the AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER (BMR) Award.
II. Recognise and honour exceptional Marathon figureheads and personalities for their contribution to the development of the Marathon movement.
III. Publicise and promote the best practice and initiatives of AIMS members (460+ race organisers) through the establishment of special environmental and social awards.
IV. Enhance the role, programs and services of AIMS.
The event will be staged in Athens, Greece on Friday 8 November 2019 and is co-organised with the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), ‘Athens Marathon. The Authentic.’ and the Region of Attica, held under the kind sponsorship of the ‘Greek National Tourism Organisation’ and ‘Athens International Airport’.
About the AIMS Social Award
In 2013 AIMS initiated this special award to recognise the social contribution of AIMS member marathon events. AIMS strongly emphasises the importance of sustainability in the pursuit of sport. This special award will recognise actions within our sport directed towards social improvement. AIMS’ intention by establishing this award is not only to honour the social initiatives of its members, but also to encourage more members to adopt such practices in their events.
Candidates for the AIMS Social Award should showcase their social commitment as a demonstration of their good will and practice when organising a Marathon event.
Previous Recipients of the AIMS Social Award
2013 – Great Ethiopian Run (Ethiopia)
2014 – Tokyo Marathon (Japan)
2015 – Maratón Internacional Lala (Mexico)
2016 – Munich Marathon (Germany)
2017 - Maratón de las Flores Medellín (Colombia)
2018 – Belgrade Marathon (Serbia)
* The 17 Sustainable Development Goals of United Nations
These goals comprise:
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Good Health and Well-Being
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Clean Water and Sanitation
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Reduced Inequalities
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Responsible Production and Consumption
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life on Land
- Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Partnerships for the Goals
For more information please visit: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
Notes to Editors
A copyright free image of the Harmony Geneva Marathon for UNICEF is available for download by clicking here.
About AIMS
AIMS is a member based organisation and since being established in 1982 has grown to a membership of more than 460 of the world’s leading distance races, from over 120 countries and territories. AIMS Members come from every continent on the planet and include the ‘Athens Marathon. The Authentic’ formed on the legend of Pheidippides, the Greek soldier-runner who ran from the town of Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the Persians had been defeated in the ‘Battle of Marathon’. Other AIMS members include many of the world’s greatest distance races in history such as the Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Comrades, New York, Paris & Tokyo Marathons. The three key objectives of AIMS are:
- To foster and promote distance running throughout the world
- To work with the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) on all matters relating to international road races.
- To exchange information, knowledge and expertise among members of the association
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