The city of Macau is preparing to host the 42nd edition of the Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon on 3 December. This prestigious sporting event has already established itself as one of the most important races on the Asian and even world calendar, attracting thousands of elite athletes to Macau's casinos.
The organisation is the responsibility of the Sports Bureau of the Macau Special Administrative Region Government, the Galaxy Entertainment group, one of the main casino and integrated resort operators in the territory, and the Macau General Athletics Association.
The marathon course, with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres, is known for its technical demands and unique landscapes, passing by emblematic sites such as the Macau Tower, the Ruins of São Paulo or the Sai Van Bridge. This year, around 60,000 athletes from more than 70 countries are expected to take part.
Among the favourites are Kenyan Peter Kamais, the race record holder, Ethiopian Birhanu Legese, the defending champion, and China's Dong Guojing, winner of the women's marathon in 2022. Entries are now open on the event's official website.
The Macau Olympic and Sports Committee (CODM) has already invited the member countries of the Association of Portuguese-speaking Olympic Committees (ACOLOP) to take part in the race. It will be an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and promote sporting and cultural exchanges within the Portuguese-speaking community.
The Galaxy Entertainment Macau International Marathon is an established event on the Asian sports scene, helping to promote Macau as an organiser of world-renowned sporting events. In 2022, the men's race was won by Kenya's Cosmas Matolo Muteti with a time of 2:17:51, while in the women's section, Ethiopia's Mulunesh Abebe Dida came first with a time of 2:37:32.