IAAF endorses Marathon of the New Millennium: rendezvous St Peter’s Square 1 January 2000
23 June 1998 - Monaco - The IAAF Council will give its fullest support to the proposal for the New Millennium Marathon, to be run through the streets of Rome, launched by IAAF President Primo Nebiolo with the backing of the Mayor of Rome, the Italian Government’s Special Commissioner for the Grand Jubilee Celebrations of the Year 2000, Francesco Rutelli. The Marathon of the New Millennium would signal the start of the year 2000 Grand Jubilee celebrations in Rome and will be part of the official IAAF competitions programme for the year 2000.
Writing to Dr Nebiolo, Mayor Rutelli said: "We are sure that the Marathon of the Millennium would not only be a truly unique world-wide athletics event, but would also attract broad international attention towards the fundamental values of athletics and sport in general. We are equally sure that only with the authority and organisational patrimony of the IAAF can we make this event a reality."
"The organisational complexity of such an athletic event will require a major commitment from our City and we are ready to pledge all the necessary infrastructure and support possible to make this competition happen."
Some of the world’s greatest marathon runners are expected to participate in this major event, starting in St Peter’s Square, which will acquire special significance as the first international marathon of the third millennium and a thrilling start to the year long celebrations for the Rome Jubilee.
