Varna. The 11th edition of the Varna International Marathon saw a record-breaking number of participants, with over 3,700 runners from 44 countries taking part in the seaside event. The marathon, which started from Independence Square, was launched by mayor Blagomir Kostev at 9:30 AM. The event is supported by the Varna Municipality.

This year, the number of registrations for the marathon is up by over 30%, indicating that Varna is an excellent host for such large-scale events. Mayor Kostev emphasized the city's commitment to sports and investment in its development, stating that it fosters and creates active citizens. He also congratulated the city's residents for the success of the Eurovision talent and wished for more victories in various fields to bring glory to the city and the country.

A prayer for the health, success, and well-being of all participants was offered by Father Yan from the Varna and Veliko Preslav Metropolitanate.

The race started with runners in the classic 42.195 km marathon and the 21 km Asics Run. Minutes later, participants in the 10.5 km race joined the event. In all three disciplines, there were over 2,200 registered participants, an increase of 600 from last year. Among the participants, the youngest was 5-year-old Yoan Yosifov in the 10.5 km race, and the oldest was 75-year-old Vasil Nikolov, also in the 10.5 km race. In the 21 km race, the oldest participant was 78-year-old Stoyan Nenov.

The 2 km race, popular with beginners and young participants, saw over 1,500 runners, including Mayor Kostev and director of the municipal sports department, Kristian Dimitrov. The event also featured the colorful "Sport with Decathlon" festival, marking the National Day of Bulgarian Sports.

The national championship in marathon, organized by the Bulgarian Federation of Athletics, is also part of the Varna Marathon. This year, organizers expect current records to be broken.