1988
At the initiative of Đokо Vještica, a journalist of the radio station
«Studio B» and Brana Radović, a track-and-field enthusiast, and in the
organisation of the Belgrade authorities, the first Belgrade Marathon is
held. The course is neither marathon nor half-marathon one. It is 23
kilometres long, and the race features only home athletes.1989
The same team organises the second race, this time twice as long, the
course equals 46,7 kilometres in length, and for the first time several
foreign athletes participate.
1990
Partizan Yugoslav Sports Association takes over the organisation of the
marathon and entrusts it to the working unit within the Partizan Agency.
Fred Lebow, the president of the AIMS, the director of the New York City
Marathon and the president of the New York Road Racing Club (NYRRC)
arrives in Belgrade in January and gives a significant contribution to
the first world version of Belgrade marathon race. The new (and current)
course is defined, measured and awarded a certificate. The Belgrade
Marathon becomes the AIMS member, and the athletes from 15 countries
arrive in Belgrade. The first official records are set by Kenya’s Joseph
Nzau (2:19,32) and Yugoslavia’s own Suzana Ćirić (2:45,09). Beside
marathon, the programme includes half marathon race and the 5000 metre
Fun Run.
1991
Due to the beginning of conflict in the former Socialist Federative
Republic of Yugoslavia, out of more than 500 foreign athletes only about
200 arrive in Belgrade. The new record is set by Tanzania’s Agapius
Masong (2:16,23). Bob Beamon, the long jump world record holder, arrives
from the USA in the capacity of the first marathon promoter. The
Belgrade Marathon’s concept of development, organisation and
communication with the world is ratified at the AIMS Congress in
Bangkok. The Belgrade Marathon donates a new athletic track to Partizan
and Belgrade athletics.
1992
The race is held under the increasingly worsening conditions due to the
ongoing civil war, while the new record of 2:16,07 is set by Nicholas
Nyengerai (Zimbabwe). An excellent cooperation is established with
Belgrade City Council as the patron of the event. Belgrade City Council
took on the obligation with maximum cooperation in the areas of
technical organisation and financial aid. Cooperation with Pat Bucher
and GLOBE RUNNERS PRODUCTION is established; the one hour coverage on
SCREEN TV initiates world media presentation of the Belgrade Marathon.
Success of the marathon leads to the founding of the company, The
Belgrade Marathon Ltd. The Belgrade Marathon Ltd. embarks on a pioneer
endeavour to introduce triathlon to Belgrade and Yugoslavia.
1993
The Children’s Marathon is held for the first time at the city’s centre,
Terazije Street, and the great interest it evokes assures the organisers
that this introduction to the marathon race requires maximum engagement.
Due to the sanctions and the country’s isolation, the participants of
the marathon race are picked up at the airports of the neighbouring
countries and transported to Belgrade. The Belgrade Marathon receives
support from the entire marathon movement, while its founder Fred Lebow
arrives in Belgrade and takes part in the half marathon race despite the
fact that he had a serious operation just few months earlier. Suzana
Ćirić betters the course record she set to 2:40,27.
1994
A ten-year contract of title sponsorship is signed with Soko Štark,
famous confectionery producer, and the 7th marathon is run under the
name of the Belgrade Soko Štark Marathon. Records are set by Ukraine’s
Vladimir Bukhanov (2:12,17) and Romania’s Cristina Pomacu (2:33,07), the
Ukrainian’s record remains unsurpassed. For the second consecutive year
the participants are transported by car and minivan from the airports in
Budapest, Temesvar, Bucharest and Sofia to Belgrade. At the end of the
year, at the AIMS Congress in Macao, Dejan Nikolić, the director of the
Belgrade Marathon, is elected into the board of directors.
1995
For the first time, the winners in men’s and women’s competitions are
awarded the Fred Lebow Trophy, established in the memory of the Belgrade
Marathon’s great friend. They are won by Belarus’ Vladimir Kotov and
Poland’s Izabela Zatorska. In spite of the media and economic embargo
the Belgrade Marathon signs its first international sponsorship contract
with the Japanese company ASICS. The Children’s Marathon is relocated to
the Belgrade Zoo, while more than 20,000 youngest Belgraders run in the
qualifiers. The Tourist Organisation of Serbia awards “The Tourist
Flower” to the Belgrade Marathon thus confirming its success. Creative
director Petar Palfi brings about the new quality of the Belgrade
Marathon’s visual identity. The first and the only live TV coverage of a
marathon race in the FRY is realised in cooperation with the national
broadcaster RTS and the Yugoslav Army.
1996
A long-term contract with NIKE is signed; the marathon is won by Ahmed
Saleh of Djibouti, one of the world’s best marathon runners of his day.
Humanitarian activities result in 50,000$ worth of goods and means for
the UNICEF Yugoslavia. In autumn, the first Belgrade Race Through
History is organised, and the diploma “Be nice and show it to others” is
awarded by the Business School for Public Relations.
1997
Due to the fact that the title sponsor has been renamed, the race is for
the first time entitled the Belgrade Štark Marathon, and its winners are
Irina Bogacheva and Josephat Ndeti. In the mid-year Belgrade is, for the
first time, presented with a new product – Ladies’ NIKE Race intended
for the fairer sex.
1998
The Belgrade Marathon course record in women’s competition of 2:32,07 is
set by Irina Bogacheva from Kyrgyzstan, while Kenya’s Reuben Chebutich
triumphs in men’s competition. Supporting the runners, in the role of
promoter is the Italian Gelindo Bordin. The Business School for Public
Relations awards the diploma “Be nice and show it to others” to the
Belgrade Marathon for the second time. In cooperation with the Belgrade
authorities, a big concert featuring Sir Bob Geldof is organised.
1999
Under the motto «Stop the War – Run the World», the world's first
marathon in the state of war is organised, even though all other events
are cancelled due to the bombing. As 39 marathon runners from seven
countries and many foreign friends of the marathon arrive in Belgrade
uninvited, a non-competitive marathon race is held in which 39 runners
run the course for 3:17,00, crossing the finish line together with their
hands held high in the air. This is the first and the only marathon in
which all competitors are winners. The Fun Run features 15,000 runners,
while the half marathon race is not held. On the same day, 21 Russian
cities – from Moscow to Vladivostok – organise local Belgrade Štark
Marathons exercising solidarity with the Belgrade runners.
2000
The marathon race restores its the competitive character. New winners
are Thabiso Moqhali from Lesotho and Romania’s Cristina Pomacu. However,
due to the country’s adverse economic situation, a consequence of the
prolonged isolation and war, organisational conditions have considerably
worsened and great efforts are invested so that the marathon can be
held.
2001
Romania’s Cristina Pomacu sets the new course record running under the
two and a half hour limit - 2:29,44. A very successful charity endeavour
“I run for the kids” raises 450,000 DEM that are paid into the account
of the Ministry of Social Affairs of Republic of Serbia, and yellow
T-shirts featuring the said slogan become the trademark of both Fun Run
and marathon. Cooperation protocol is signed with the Tourist
Organisation of Belgrade.
2002
Belgrade City Council takes over the organisation of an event entitled
«Marathon over Belgrade» (contract with Štark is suspended), and the
Belgrade Marathon Ltd. serves only as a technical organiser
(approximately 80% of the entire organisation). Marathon course is
partially altered so that the results cannot be compared with those of
the original course.
2003
For the first time marathon is rescheduled from April to October and
held simultaneously with the road race «Belgrade Grand Prix» and
organised by Belgrade City Council, without the participation of the
Belgrade Marathon Ltd. Half marathon has a new course.
2004
Marathon is held in April again, and Christopher Njunguda (Tanzania)
with 2:12,53 sets the third best result including all marathon races and
the alternative course record.
2005
In accordance with the contract made with Belgrade City Council, the
Belgrade Marathon Ltd. takes over the organisation of the 18th Belgrade
Marathon. As the contract of title sponsorship is signed with Delta
Sport, the marathon is named the 18th Belgrade DELTA SPORT Marathon.
Cooperation with Štark is renewed in the form of organisation of the
children's marathon now named the Children's Smoki Marathon, after the
company's famous product. The process of readmission to the AIMS is
underway, and the marathon returns to its original course.
2006
Carl Lewis finally arrives to Belgrade, a promise he made back in 1994.
The Belgrade Marathon has a new title sponsor, and hence the new name:
„Belgrade BANCA INTESA Marathon“. For the first time ChampionChips
computer timing system will be used, prizes and bonuses are increased,
and the Belgrade Marathon is a full member of the AIMS. The Children’s
Smoki Marathon got its logical upgrade – a permanent initiative entitled
„Let’s Start With Sports“, whose value is recognised by the EAA’s
involvement.
