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2007, Beijing Marathon Start-off
Editor‘s Note: ―Olympics Knowledge Report‖ is a collection of writings under the
influence of the Olympic dream: here we should learn and understand Olympic facts;
here we take the stable steps for preparing for the Olympics; here we can see the
smiles from Olympic volunteers; here we can feel the concern from all PKU students,
alumni and faculty.
2008, happy Olympics, healthy Olympics, that is our wish, that is our goal!
Peking University, Apr. 21, 2008: The ―Good Luck Beijing‖ 2008 marathon opened in
Beijing on April 20 and the route of 42.195 kilometers makes a detour through PKU.
In light of this event, we will introduce the forming and development of the marathon
in this issue of ―Olympics Knowledge Report‖.
The name ―marathon‖ came from the Ancient Greek town of Marathon. It is the
world‘s longest track and field competition. 490 BC, during the Greco-Persian Wars,
the Greek army successfully defeated the Persian army on the Marathon Plain. In
order to spread the news of the victory to Athens, Pheidippides ran from Marathon to
Athens (a total of 42 km 195 m), after running for 36.2km and delivering the news. He
died from over-exhaustion but his name is forever recorded in history books.
In 1896, the first Olympics opened in Athens, French linguist M. Bréal, suggested
that the marathon be added as an official competition. The first Olympic marathon
followed the route of Pheidippides, about 40km, and the few Olympic marathons
after that have all stayed around 40 km. Up until 1908, for the ease of viewing of the
royal family, the 4th Olympics held in London changed the distance to 26 miles 385
yards, or 42.195km. Before 1984, the marathon was only a men‘s field and track
competition, during the 1984 23rd Olympic Games did they finally set up the
women‘s marathon.
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