While the echo of the great success of the 20th ColleMar-athon has not yet died down, which on 5 May attracted over 2 thousand people in running shoes among competitive runners, walkers and baby athletes, an important piece of data arrives which seals the growing importance of the event. The one on tourist presences in accommodation facilities: “Thanks to the ColleMar-athon – underlines Luciano Cecchini, president of Alberghi Consorziati and vice-president of Federalberghi Marche – in the hotels and B&Bs of Fano and the hinterland we have recorded over 800 more overnight stays and this is must add the significant influx into restaurants and pizzerias and the growth in turnover for many shops. We are focusing a lot on sports tourism and this event is a feather in our cap, because it moves a lot of people and promotes our territory in a special way. For this reason, on May 31st we will reward the president of the ColleMar-athon Annibale Montanari within the ‘Il Gusto dei Borghi’ initiative organized by Confcommercio and Alberghi Consorziati Fano”. Annibale Montanari, for his part, shares the credit for this umpteenth ‘victory’ with all those who contributed to the realization of the marathon: “Our gratitude goes, first of all, to the administrations involved and to the sponsors who rallied around our group, providing us with the essential support to set up an event of this magnitude. Thanks also to the associations and the sea of volunteers, who represent the backbone of the event, over 300 big-hearted women and men, who took time away from their families to stand by us. We will never find the right words to express all the gratitude they deserve.”
And Montanari’s list is still long: “Thanks to the professionalism of the Police Force, Civil Protection and the Red Cross; thanks to the staff of the health care service, made up of doctors, resuscitators and nurses; thanks to our humanitarian partners ; to the residents of the territories crossed by the three tests of the ColleMar-athon, who took to the streets to applaud the runners, making the route festive and welcoming; thanks to the disabled people who enthusiastically brought the First Race of the Specials to life; to each of the participants. I bid everyone farewell on May 4, 2025.”
Sandro Franceschetti
