In 2023, the Sofico Gent Marathon was the biggest marathon in the country with almost 13,000 participants. Organiser Golazo and the city council have ambitions to further grow the event in 2024. In order to achieve that, they are working on a totally revamped course.
In recent years, the running competition has experienced strong growth. In two years, the number of participants has more than doubled, from 6,000 to almost 13,000 in 2023. The ambition is to continue this growth in 2024 with more than 15,000 runners discovering Ghent’s city centre and its surroundings while exercising.
The growing popularity will be coupled with extra comfort for the runners in 2024. So, in cooperation with the city of Ghent, a completely new course will be designed that is wider and takes in even more of Ghent. “The Marathon has a clear economic and tourist impact on the city. More and more runners from far outside Ghent are finding their way to the Sofico Gent Marathon, resulting in lots of extra overnight stays. Spurred on by Councillor for Sport Sofie Bracke, the city council has therefore made a commitment to put even more effort into this event. This will result in a renewed course for both marathon and half marathon. It will be a lot more comfortable and varied. We will offer even more Gent. I can already reveal that the long section along the R4 of the half marathon will be scrapped and replaced by some beautiful stretches within the city. Soon we will announce the full course.” said Greg Broekmans of Golazo.
“The Sofico Gent Marathon puts our running city on the map worldwide,” Councillor for Sport Sofie Bracke thrills. “Marathon tourists from all over the world are finding their way to Ghent. This year, they will have a new course to run on and afterwards they can enjoy the many other assets our city has to offer. Hopefully the weather gods will be slightly better disposed towards us this year, although even last year’s pouring rain couldn’t spoil the fun.”
Growing individually and collectively
Ghent-based software company Sofico is delighted to once again be a partner of the Sofico Gent Marathon. “We are looking forward to exploring the new course. We constantly strive to become a better version of ourselves and are convinced that individual growth spills over into the collective. The Sofico Gent Marathon embodies that thought exactly,” said Piet Maes, CTO and founder of Sofico. At Sofico, 20 new marathon ambassadors are ready, eager to start their own personal training programme and run the half or full marathon next year.”
As in previous years, the Sofico Gent Marathon fulfils its social role. This translates into an active support of non-profit organisation Sportaround, a Ghent organisation dedicated to giving everyone the chance to participate in sport. After all, sport gives children opportunities to develop in positive ways.
