Paris 2024: How to take part in the 'marathon under the stars' on Olympic route
Those interested in following in the footsteps of top athletes running in the Paris 2024 Olympics can now register for the 'Marathon pour tous' which will take place under the stars in the city of light next summer.
For the first time in history, the general public will be able to participate in a running event organised by the Olympic Games.
The Marathon pour tous (Marathon for all) will follow the same route as the Paris 2024 Olympic marathon, allowing more than 20,000 people to run the route under the stars - the marathon will start at 9pm on August 10th, 2024.
The path will take you through the heart of the city, following the Seine river out toward the Versailles Palace, passing along several historic landmarks on the way.
The route itself has historic significance - as it pays tribute to the "Women's March on Versailles", a key moment from the start of the French revolution when thousands of women marched to the Versailles palace to force the king to finally see the reality of the streets of Paris, where many faced starvation. Historians consider this moment to have been integral in pushing the king to finally sign the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens".
You can see the route below:
La nuit, tous les coureurs brillent 🌙
Le Marathon Pour Tous s'élancera dans la nuit du 10 août dans une ambiance de fête
🏁 Départ à 21h pour le Marathon
🏁 Départ à 23h30 pour le 10Km
🥇 Sur le même parcours que les athlètes olympiques
Viens éclairer la ville lumière ! pic.twitter.com/pSwJpVl61I
— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) April 20, 2023
To participate in the marathon, you must be at least 20 years old by December 31, 2024. It will start at the Hôtel de Ville and finish on the Esplanade des Invalides, with a total of 20,024 places available.
If you are less interested in running 42km, there will also be a shorter 10km race as well. This will begin at 11:30pm, staying within central Paris and passing by monuments like the Eiffel Tower.
The 10km route will also be accessible to anyone with a disability, including those running with a guide or participating in either a wheelchair or all-terrain chair.
Participants for the 10km event will need to be at least 16 years old before December 31st, 2024.
How do I sign up?
This is where it gets complicated - you have to enter for a chance to win a slot to participate, and the more exercise you do over the next year, the better your chance will be.
First, you have to sign up for the "Club Paris 2024" - HERE. Once you have done that, you can earn points in order to enter in the draw for a place in either the Marathon or the 10km event.
The goal is to earn at least 100,000 points before 2024. You can earn points by connecting to the "Marathon pour tous" app and tracking any walking, running or bike riding you do.
You can also connect the app with other tracking apps you use regularly, such as Fitbit or Nike+.
The app is available for iPhone and android, but some users have reported issues accessing the app with an iPhone.
Playing interactive games and quizzes on the "Club Paris 2024" website can also earn you points.
Will there be fan zones along the route?
For those who either did not earn a spot, or who are not interested in running, you can still attend and cheer the athletes on. There will be several locations along the route for members of the public.
And if you are not interested in joining the competition, you can try following the course's route on your own - it takes in lots of Paris landmarks before ending up at Versailles, so is great if you're looking for a route for a bike ride.
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For the first time in history, the general public will be able to participate in a running event organised by the Olympic Games.
The Marathon pour tous (Marathon for all) will follow the same route as the Paris 2024 Olympic marathon, allowing more than 20,000 people to run the route under the stars - the marathon will start at 9pm on August 10th, 2024.
The path will take you through the heart of the city, following the Seine river out toward the Versailles Palace, passing along several historic landmarks on the way.
The route itself has historic significance - as it pays tribute to the "Women's March on Versailles", a key moment from the start of the French revolution when thousands of women marched to the Versailles palace to force the king to finally see the reality of the streets of Paris, where many faced starvation. Historians consider this moment to have been integral in pushing the king to finally sign the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens".
You can see the route below:
La nuit, tous les coureurs brillent 🌙
— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) April 20, 2023
Le Marathon Pour Tous s'élancera dans la nuit du 10 août dans une ambiance de fête
🏁 Départ à 21h pour le Marathon
🏁 Départ à 23h30 pour le 10Km
🥇 Sur le même parcours que les athlètes olympiques
Viens éclairer la ville lumière ! pic.twitter.com/pSwJpVl61I
To participate in the marathon, you must be at least 20 years old by December 31, 2024. It will start at the Hôtel de Ville and finish on the Esplanade des Invalides, with a total of 20,024 places available.
If you are less interested in running 42km, there will also be a shorter 10km race as well. This will begin at 11:30pm, staying within central Paris and passing by monuments like the Eiffel Tower.
The 10km route will also be accessible to anyone with a disability, including those running with a guide or participating in either a wheelchair or all-terrain chair.
Participants for the 10km event will need to be at least 16 years old before December 31st, 2024.
How do I sign up?
This is where it gets complicated - you have to enter for a chance to win a slot to participate, and the more exercise you do over the next year, the better your chance will be.
First, you have to sign up for the "Club Paris 2024" - HERE. Once you have done that, you can earn points in order to enter in the draw for a place in either the Marathon or the 10km event.
The goal is to earn at least 100,000 points before 2024. You can earn points by connecting to the "Marathon pour tous" app and tracking any walking, running or bike riding you do.
You can also connect the app with other tracking apps you use regularly, such as Fitbit or Nike+.
The app is available for iPhone and android, but some users have reported issues accessing the app with an iPhone.
Playing interactive games and quizzes on the "Club Paris 2024" website can also earn you points.
Will there be fan zones along the route?
For those who either did not earn a spot, or who are not interested in running, you can still attend and cheer the athletes on. There will be several locations along the route for members of the public.
And if you are not interested in joining the competition, you can try following the course's route on your own - it takes in lots of Paris landmarks before ending up at Versailles, so is great if you're looking for a route for a bike ride.
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