Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, will host the 13th edition of the Almaty Marathon on 29 September 2024 – the largest running event in Central Asia, which has become a catalyst for change in the region. The marathon has instilled a love of running in the people of Kazakhstan and has also had a tangible impact on the economy and the wider social sphere in Almaty and the entire region.
In 2012, Kazakhstani entrepreneur Galimzhan Yessenov founded the “Courage to be First” corporate foundation. The foundation has now held more than 100 events attended by more than 200,000 people from all over the world. The flagship project of the foundation – the Almaty Marathon – has become an important driver of Almaty’s economic development, attracting tourists to the city and stimulating the growth of local businesses.
The marathon raised a record $143,000 for charity last year. Every year, a part of the registration fee charged to take part is allocated to children with special needs. Over 12 years, the foundation’s team has implemented more than 30 charitable initiatives worth over $610,000 and encouraged more than 3,000 children into sport.
Almaty has also seen a wider economic impact due to the annual marathon. Companies partnering with the marathon contributed $1.8m in taxes last year, three times more than in 2019. The impact of the marathon on the city’s economy was documented in the Foundation’s 2023 impact survey.
The Foundation found that almost half (46%) of 1,000 Almaty Marathon participants surveyed made purchases during the two-day event. The total amount of their spending amounted to $16,800 USD (KZT 7.9m). The increase in the number of participants, including international participants, stimulates the growth of service providers’ income and contributes to the development of the local tourism industry.
The impact of the Almaty Marathon on the local economy has been illustrated by the majority of participants – 56% of respondents from the 2023 report noted that the Almaty Marathon has contributed to infrastructure development, increased tourism and raised awareness of local businesses.
Galimzhan Yessenov, chairman of the board of trustees of the “Courage to be First” foundation, commented on the impact of the Almaty Marathon on the city: “When launching the Almaty Marathon, we set ourselves goals primarily related to the development of sports and developing a running culture. But today we can proudly say that the marathon and other races organised by the Foundation have much broader benefits. It is extremely humbling to see that the Almaty Marathon has had such a great impact economically and socially on the city. The marathon has increased access to sport for the people of the city and the region. It has brought significant economic value to the region, stimulating the growth of tourism and related industries. The charitable component of the project also plays an important role. We are proud that the Almaty Marathon has become not just a sporting event, but a tool for the development of the city and its residents.”
The Almaty Marathon course is set against the stunning panorama of the Zailiyskiy Alatau Mountains. The marathon is a qualifying event of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which gives participants the opportunity not only to run the distance, but also to explore one of the most underappreciated parts of Central Asia.
See more at almaty-marathon.kz