Since 2019, Cuba has not organized the Marabana due to the pandemic of COVID-19.    Photo: Archivo/RHC

Havana, September 5 (RHC)-- The director of Cuba's National Commission of Races and Walks, Carlos Gattorno reported Monday that some 242 foreign runners from 34 countries have already confirmed their attendance to the Havana Marathon 2022 (Marabana).

The executive told the weekly Jit in its digital edition, that November 20 will be the date for the event, and advanced the dispute of the national open championship in the same race after four years of absence.

Among the novelties for this year, he explained that if a non-national competitor wins, he automatically becomes the country's title holder, and recalled that it will be run by age category.

"That is why we hope to grow in walkers, despite the fact that marathons in the world are depressed due to the international economic situation and the diseases that plague the planet," Gattorno commented.

The executive also discussed the importance of Marabana's strategic alliances with the international business organization AS Deporte de México, in charge of logistics and other insurances, an entity that enjoys preference among Mexican and Latin American long-distance runners. He specified that this institution will become the official sponsor of the event.

For 2022, the organizers of the competition expect an important revival, in a race marked three years ago by the participation of 5,858 runners, of whom 1,449 were foreigners, with some 400 Americans playing a leading role.