Regulations EAGLES’ RIDGE (Kopsi ton Aeton) 2024
1. TERMS
In the below listed regulations the words noted refer to specific terms:
- RACE, for the “Kopsi ton Aeton”
- ATHLETES, PARTICIPANTS, for the participants of the Kopsi ton Aeton
- ORGANIZERS, for the Board of the Olympus Marathon
- COMMITTEE, for the Organization Committee of Olympus Marathon.
2. ORGANIZERS
In collaboration with the Municipality of Dion-Olympos and Pieria Regional Unit of Central Macedonia organize the 6th edition of “Kopsi ton Aeton”, the international trail running race on Mount Olympus on Sunday June 30, 2024.
3. GENERAL INFORMATION
“Kopsi ton Aeton” (“Eagles’ Ridge” in English) is the trail running race on Mount Olympus, which has a distance of 12.5km and elevation gain of + 600m. The race takes place on the last Sunday of June every year starting from parking area of old monastery of Saint Dionisios (Enipeas Canyon) at 10:00 a.m. and ends in Litochoro.
Time limit: 5 hours.
Reason for naming the race.
On the right slope of Zilnia the "Eagles’ Ridge" is, admittedly, the most beautiful and spectacular climbing route. Dimitris Boudolas solo made this route for the first time in 1979. Dimitris Boudolas was a Greek climber from Litochoro with international recognition, who lost his life prematurely in the Himalayas, at an altitude of 6,400m on October 22, 1985, at the age of just 32, participating in the first Greek mission to conquer the summit Annapurna South. In honour of the memory of this great person of Greek mountaineering, a race "Eagles’ Ridge" was created.
4. PARTICIPATION
Men and women over the age of 15 are eligible to participate in the race (for ages 15-18 will need the consent of their parents).
5. REGISTRATION
Registration opens on January 28 and will close on June 15, 2024.
Only individual registrations are possible.
Athletes must provide their personal data, a short sports CV and if there is an ITRA rating with a link from the ITRA page https://itra.run/RunnerSpace
The registration is completed if the payment procedure is done.
Participation fee:
January 28 – February 11: 15 euro
February 12 – May 9: 20 euro
May 10 – June 15: 25 euro
Participation fee is to be paid during the registration period online by credit or debit card exclusively and includes:
- race bib
- race pack
- first assistance during the race and at the finish line
- finisher's medal (for valid finishes)
- atomic insurance in case of accident
- transfer from the Park of Litochoro to the start area
The 1st man winner and the 1st woman winner of “Kopsi ton Aeton” 2023 are honoured to take part in “Kopsi ton Aeton” 2024 free of charge.
The Organization has the right to approve the participation, even for free, of athletes it deems worthy to take part in the competition, thus raising the competition level. This can be done at any time, even after registration closes.
"Eagles’ Ridge" 2024 is a qualified race for Winter Enipeas 2024.
6. CANCELLATION POLICY
If an athlete cannot participate in the race, he/she must inform the organizers by email at the following address: info@olympus-marathon.com
In case of cancellation of the participation the registration fee will not be refunded.
Should the race be annulled for reasons beyond the control of the Organizers up to 15 days before the event, the Organizers will refund 50% of the registration fees paid. This percentage is made necessary by the various expenses that the Organizers have already incurred that cannot be recuperated.
Should the race be interrupted or annulled due to weather conditions, or for any other reason beyond the control of the Organizers, no refund of the registration fee will be made.
It is not possible to exchange race BIB number, to postpone the registration to the following year, to switch from one race to another.
Athletes caught with race BIBs belonging to other athletes, even after the race, will be disqualified.
7. MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
Athletes are not obliged to present a medical certificate for good health condition. However, the participants themselves should be fully aware of their competence to enter such a race as “Kopsi ton Aeton”. It must be clear that by submitting an application, one takes full responsibility for anything might happen, during or after the race.
8. MAXIMUM TIME LIMIT. WITHDRAWING FROM THE RACE (DNF)
The maximum time allowed for an athlete to reach the finish line is 5 hours.
Athletes who reach the finish out the time limit will be disqualified (DSQ).
The "pick up" service will follow the last runner, in order to help the athletes who leave the race and to provide help for anyone who is injured or needs help.
There are no cut-off points in the race.
In order to ensure the health of the participants, the medical representatives of the event at the checkpoints have the power to prevent runners who are deemed unfit to continue the race. Race officials reserve the right to exclude athletes who do not respect the rules.
In case of abandonment (DNF), the athletes must be informed by the "pick-up" service and the person in charge of the station and will have to move either to the Monastery or to Zilnia on foot on their own to get the vehicle of the Organization that will transport them back to Litochoro.
For logistical reasons, athletes who have stopped the race may have to wait for some time for the vehicle to pick them up from the designated collection points before being escorted to the finish line.
Any athlete who leaves the race at any point other than the designated checkpoints should return to Litochoro and immediately inform the Organizers of the race.
9. COLLECTION OF THE RACE BIB NUMBER AND RACE PACK
Race numbers and race packs distribution take place at the Municipal Park of Litochoro where Olympus Marathon EXPO Area is. Detailed program will be announced later.
To collect race bib numbers, athletes must present a valid identity document.
BIB numbers should be worn by all participants unchanged only on the front of their jersey and should not be folded or cut.
The BIB number must be worn by the person registered for the race.
In case the participant will not take part in the race the Organizers will send the athlete package (to the address stated in the registration form) after the end of the event.
10. MANDATORY EQUIPMENT
To address all the different possible climatic conditions on the day of the race, at their sole discretion and on the basis of the weather forecast provided by the competent body, the Organizers may modify the list of mandatory equipment. Any changes may be communicated up to 12 hours before the start of the race, therefore all athletes are advised to have all the mandatory equipment.
Athletes must have the following equipment with them for the entire duration of the race:
- race bib number visible during the entire duration of the race
- water reserve of at least 0.5 litres (in order to reduce the consumption of plastic, there will be no plastic cups in the stations)
- footwear appropriate for running on mount Olympus terrain (stones, rocks, gravel)
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
Race participants are advised to bring the following equipment with them:
- sunglasses
- windproof jacket
- sun cap
The use of trekking poles is allowed.
11. REFRESHMENT STATIONS
There are two refreshment stations:
1. Monastery (3km, alt. 890m)
2. Zilnia (9.6km, alt.700m)
Only athletes with a visible BIB number of the race will have access to the refreshment stations. where snacks and water will be served only by the station staff. Garbage should be placed in appropriate containers.
THERE WILL BE NO PLASTIC CUPS AT THE STATIONS since one of the main objectives of the Organization is to have no ecological footprint on the environment.
Any special dietary requirements must be addressed independently by the athletes.
At the finish line there will be soft drinks and fruit for the race finishers.
12. ASSISTANCE DURING THE RACE
Assistance provided to athletes by family or team members is only permitted at the refreshment stations.
Pacing and mulling are not allowed during all the race.
The athlete is allowed to be accompanied by familiar persons ONLY a few meters before the finish.
13. START OF THE RACE
The Organizers provide transfer from Litochoro to the start area. There will be bus shuttles from the Park of Litochoro (finish line). The athletes who wish to take the bus shuttle to the start line have to take the bus ticket during the bib number and runners pack distribution. The timetable of the bus’s departure will be announced in the Event schedule.
Athletes must be in the start line by 09:45 am on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
The race starts at 10:00 am on June 30, 2024.
In case of consecutive starts (block) the number of the block as well as the position in it, will be determined exclusively based on the ITRA Performance Index.
14. RACE ROUTE
The detailed description of the race route is performed in the section “route”
The marking of the route will be dense with coloured strips, paint (short duration) in bright colours (ONLY WITHIN THE TOWN AND IN ASPHALT PLACES) and small signs that will have the logo of the race.
The athletes are obliged to move along the trail without forming groups that extend in width, preventing others that would like to overpass.
In case of emergency (especially dangerous weather conditions) the Organizers maintain the right to modify the route, so that no athlete will be exposed at risk. Alternative routes will be outlined at the briefing before the start of the race.
Race kilometres are not marked. Athletes should strictly adhere to the marked race route and avoid taking shortcuts or cutting out sections of the route. Any departures from the official route will lead to disqualification and shall be at the sole risk of athletes.
15. INSURANCE
The Organizers insure the athletes in case of an accident during the race by a private insurance company.
16. SAFETY
The Organizers in cooperation with the Volunteers Samaritans and Rescue team will be positioned along the race route. Ambulances with paramedics shall be positioned at the finish in the stand-by mode, where a doctor and an advanced medical facility shall be present.
17. ENVIRONMENT
The race takes place in the protected National Park area with the natural eco system. Due to its outstanding natural and cultural importance, Olympus was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1981 with its inclusion in the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program (MAB). Participants are therefore required to fully respect the mountain environment, in particular by not leaving rubbish, picking flowers or disturbing the wildlife. Anyone found leaving rubbish along the route shall be disqualified from the race and incur the penalties laid down by municipal regulations.
To reduce plastic consumption, single use cups will not be shared, so the athlete must bring their own cup.
18. WEATHER
In case of adverse weather conditions (dense fog, heavy rain or thunder storms), the Organizers reserve the right to make last-minute changes, even during the race, to the race route in order to eliminate potential hazards or conditions that could cause hardship for participants. The participants will be informed by the Organizers of any changes. The Organizers also reserve the right to suspend or cancel the race if the weather conditions are such that they put athletes, staff, volunteers or medical teams at risk.
19. DISQUALIFICATION, PENALTIES, APPEALS AND OBJECTIONS. RACE RESULTS
The following infringements will lead to immediate disqualification and withdrawal of the race bib number:
● taking shortcuts
● leaving rubbish along the race route
● failing to aid a participant in difficulty
● use of transport during the race
● insulting or threatening staff or volunteers
● losing the bib number
A one-hour penalty will be incurred for the following infringements:
● if the athlete had a pacer during the race (except for the last 100 meters before the finish line, where the athlete may be accompanied by family members)
● use of unauthorized assistance or assistance outside the areas defined in the Regulation.
Penalty or Disqualification (DSQ) may be applied as soon as the offense is established, at the end of the match or after the cross-examination of the evidence, but later until the announcement of the official results.
Appeals will be evaluated and answered in the necessary time, decisions are final, without appeal.
Objections, regardless of the reason, are submitted only by the athlete within 24 hours after the end of the match. The decision of the Committee is issued no later than the announcement of the official results and cannot be disputed.
The unofficial results will be available within 24 hours of the end of the match. The ranking of the athletes will be based on gun time.
The official results are announced on the website of the organization.
20. AWARDS
A remembrance medal is awarded only to the athletes that crossed the finish line within the set race time limit of 5 hours.
The first 3 men and 3 women of general ranking will receive the winner’s cups.
There are no age categories in the race.
The award ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 30, at 14:30 in the Park of Litochoro (at the finish area).
Under no circumstances will prizes be sent or handed out in advance.
21. IMAGE RIGHTS
On registration, athletes authorise the Organizers to freely use any still or moving images depicting them during their participation in Olympus Marathon races with no territorial or time limits.
22. WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY
Voluntary registration and subsequent participation in the race indicate full acceptance of the race rules and regulations and any subsequent changes made to them. By registering, participants exempt the Organizers from any civil or criminal liability for damage to persons and/or property caused by or to them.
Updated: June 2024