page contents
Seychelles gears up for 10th Eco-Friendly Marathon

Seychelles gears up for 10th Eco-Friendly Marathon

At the end of February, Seychelles will be hosting its 10th Eco-Friendly Marathon, the second event on its national calendar of events.

Held every last Sunday of February, the event was initiated in 2008 by the Seychelles’ honorary consul in South Korea Dong Chang Jeong who is also a seasoned marathon runner. He continues to take part in top marathons across the world.


Mr. Jeong approached the Seychelles government with his vision for a Seychelles marathon that would encourage a healthy lifestyle, unify Seychellois and visiting athletes, and raise the profile of the Seychelles brand.

For the first marathon, there were about 330 runners of 19 nationalities who took part in this event.

The attraction of running against the stunning backdrop of Mahé Island’s spectacular beauty combined with the vibrant marathon ambiance proved to be an instant hit and by 2011, the number of runners increased to over 1,000 of no less than 31 nationalities.

Meanwhile, Jeong and his team have ensured that they bring the flavors, sights, and sounds of Korea with them in the form of a special Korean gala dinner after each marathon featuring the value-added attractions of a Korean buffet dinner, classical music and cultural exchange concerts, fashion shows, traditional Korean music, and exhibitions.


The 2017 Seychelles Eco-Friendly Marathon will feature four courses: 5 km, 10 km, half-marathon, and full marathon, which meander through the stunning countryside of north Mahé, allowing runners to enjoy heart-stopping views of lush mountain greenery and an azure ocean sprinkled with glistening islands, like gemstones set in water. It is hard to imagine a marathon course of such sublime beauty – a secret that is now well and truly out.

The official prize-giving that same evening will be followed by a special Korean gala dinner and Seychelles-Korea cultural exchange exhibition.

At its outset in 2008, few could have imagined that the Seychelles Eco-Friendly Marathon could have attracted so many runners down the years and achieved the status it has in Seychelles’ calendar of events. Today, Seychelles’ very own marathon is on the road to attracting more people to take part with its alluring mix of sport, culture, and island-style entertainment.

The 2017 Seychelles Eco-Friendly Marathon is expected to welcome some 5,000 runners from the four corners of the world.

CATEGORIES
TAGS
Share This