Greece has gained a significant market due to its historical civilization and property investment immigration, focus on Greece, focus on life! On April 17, Ambassador Zou Xiaoli of Greece, at the invitation of Marathon Mayor Psichas, fired the starting gun for the 2016 Half Marathon in the city of Marathon.
According to historical records, in 490 BC, the Greek army defeated the invading Persian army at Marathon. The messenger Pheidippides ran non-stop back to Athens to report this good news, and after completing his mission, he collapsed and died. This event became the origin of the modern marathon and established Marathon, located approximately 42 kilometers northeast of Athens, as a significant place in the hearts of runners worldwide.
On the day of the competition, the sky was clear and the spring breeze was warm. Hot air balloons featuring the flags of China and Greece floated above the racecourse. Ambassador Zou and his wife enthusiastically cheered for the participants and took photos with the award winners, creating an atmosphere of warmth, friendliness, and positive energy. Over 3,000 participants from various parts of Greece took part in the half marathon, children's 1-kilometer race, adult 3-kilometer race, and relay events.
After the event, Ambassador Zou met with Psichas and jointly accepted interviews from mainstream Greek media, including Alpha TV, MEGA TV, and the local Marathon media "Democrat."
Ambassador Zou stated that Chinese primary and secondary school students grow up reading stories about Greek history and the marathon, and he was once one of them. He expressed his honor to witness this world-renowned event in the birthplace of the marathon and to fire the starting gun. The marathon not only represents a culture and spirit but can also serve as a bridge of friendship and cooperation between nations and peoples. Ambassador Zou expressed that as a "World Marathon Ambassador," he is committed to better promoting marathon culture in China. This year marks the Year of Cultural and Industrial Cooperation between China and Greece, and he hopes that today he is not only firing the starting gun for the marathon but also promoting a new stage of cultural and sports exchange between China and Greece.
Psichas thanked Ambassador Zou for attending the half marathon in Marathon City. He stated that the marathon is thriving worldwide, and many cities in China are also holding marathons. We are proud of this and hope that more people will learn about Marathon City and understand marathon culture. Both China and Greece are ancient civilizations with splendid histories and cultures, and the peoples of both countries have been friendly for generations. In recent years, not only has economic cooperation between the two countries continued to advance, but cultural exchanges have also become increasingly frequent. Marathon City has established a sister city relationship with Xiamen City in China and hopes to engage in friendly exchanges and cooperation with more Chinese cities.