Five Thousand Runners at the Belgrade Half Marathon

The 5th Belgrade Half Marathon will take place on November 24 in the streets of our capital city, under the patronage of the City of Belgrade and the Ministry of Sports. In addition to the half marathon race, a 10-kilometer race will also be held, featuring over five thousand participants from more than 40 countries. This will significantly surpass the participation record set last year when 4,080 runners from 42 countries took part in the Belgrade Half Marathon.

Last year’s half marathon was memorable for the victory of our national representative, Elzan Bibić, who completed the course in 62 minutes and 15 seconds. He was only four seconds shy of breaking the national half marathon record set by Janko Benša in 1998. “We all hope that this year Elzan Bibić will succeed in breaking the 26-year-old record, with the support of the Belgrade audience,” said Darko Habuš, director of the Belgrade Marathon, the organizer of this running event, at a press conference.

The race is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra and Resavska Street, with the finish line traditionally set at Terazije, in front of Hotel Moskva. This time, the organizers have opted for three separate starting waves divided into zones to avoid unnecessary crowding and provide runners with a unique experience on the course.

This year, which we are now bidding farewell to, has been unique due to the record number of participants in all the races we organized. We proudly highlight that we hosted over 13,000 runners at the 37th Comtrade Belgrade Marathon, more than 4,000 participants in the 10K Belgrade race powered by NIKE, and 2,500 participants in the dm Women’s Race,” emphasized Habuš. He also reminded everyone that Belgrade has secured the hosting rights for the European Running Championships in 2027, which will feature races at 10, 21, and 42 kilometers, jointly organized by the Belgrade Marathon and the Serbian Athletics Federation.

The Belgrade Marathon will celebrate its 40th anniversary that year, and the entire event will hold great significance for the city and the country as a prelude to the specialized Expo 2027 exhibition,” Habuš emphasized.

He once again highlighted that the Belgrade Marathon places great emphasis on social responsibility, drawing attention to several humanitarian initiatives carried out by the “Heroes of the Belgrade Marathon” Foundation.

Elzan Bibić, last year’s winner of the Belgrade Half Marathon, is now preparing in Madrid for a new challenge on the 21.095-kilometer course in Serbia’s capital. He addressed the audience via video link from the Spanish capital.

My form ahead of the Belgrade Half Marathon is at a high level. I’m expecting a good result and a strong finish. When I say a good result, I’m referring to breaking the national record, which has stood for more than 25 years. Last year, I missed it by less than five seconds. This year, I’ve prepared well, and most importantly, I’m completely healthy,” emphasized the Serbian national team member.

The young man from Novi Pazar particularly emphasized the atmosphere he expects in Belgrade.

I hope for an even larger crowd along the course and support throughout the entire race. I will have my team and my family with me, so that will be an extra boost for me. I invite everyone who can to come on Sunday, November 24, to this great event, so we can make history together,” said Elzan Bibić.

Following the press conference, an educational panel titled “Sport, Health, Corporate Support, and Social Responsibility in Focus: Mental Strength, Physical Preparation in Specific Conditions, Recovery, and the Power of Unity” was held. During the panel, the role of corporations in promoting sports activities was discussed, with a particular focus on the importance of humanitarian actions, the necessity of inclusion, and the significance of donations to vulnerable groups.