Sports general secretary Stavros Douvis (l), SEGAS chief Vassilis Sevastis and Giorgos Karavidas.

The 26th Athens Classic Mara-thon starts tomorrow at 9 a.m. with a record number of over 10,000 participants, who will cover the distance of 42,195 meters from the Marathon Tomb to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

Stavros Douvis, general secretary for sports, told a press conference yesterday that foreign runners, who account for more than half of participants, will be Greece’s sports ambassadors to the world, transmitting the country’s love for sports. The president of Greece’s Track and Field Federation (SEGAS), Vassilis Sevastis, said the organizers’ aim is to ensure the best possible conditions for the 10,098 runners as well as that all of them finish the race in good health.

Greek athletes taking part in tomorrow’s race will also be competing for the national championship, with last year’s winner Giorgos Karavidas stating yesterday he feels ready to repeat his triumph.

Traffic in northern and central Athens will be halted along the marathon’s route from early in the morning until the early afternoon.