Greek athlete Maria Polyzou extended her warm greetings to this metropolis and said it was a great honour to bring the marathon flame from her country to India ahead of Sunday’s Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.
“It is a great privilege for me to bring the flame to Mumbai. Mumbai is a beautiful city and marathon town (in Greece) extends its hearty friendship to Mumbai,” said the Greek national marathon champion.
Maria, who is also the vice-president of her country’s athletic federation SEGAS, said the gruelling 42.1 km event showcases in full the human spirit and hard work.
“My country gave birth to the marathon race 2500 years ago. Marathon is the essence of human spirit and hard work. It shows the greatness of human effort,” she said.
Panagiotis Dimakos, secretary-general of SEGAS, pointed out that very few places outside his country have had the privilege of hosting the marathon flame, which is a closely protected property of Greece.
“We are glad to be in Mumbai. Very few towns in the world have received the marathon flame. SEGAS, in co-operation with the town of marathon, decided to bring the marathon flame to Mumbai. I expect a very good race,” he said.
