A road race will take place on May 4 (Sunday) along the Piraeus coast. The Piraeus Port Run was renamed from the annual Vartzakios Race and includes a new identity and new routes. It will include 5-km and 10-km races for adults and a 1-km race for children.

As Piraeus Mayor Yiannis Moralis explained at a press conference on Thursday, the original race was held for the first time in 1986 to honor Piraeus Marathon runner Christos Vartzakis. The effort to upgrade the race and make it more extroverted was spearheaded by Piraeus Marathon winner and Balkan Games winner Nikos Polias, who is experienced in organizing races. The Piraeus Port Run "can become one of the greatest athletic events in Piraeus on an annual basis, something all of us involved in this event wish," the mayor said.

Registered already are 1,200 runners. Registrations will remain open until 14:00 on April 30 (Wednesday), at https://www.myrace.gr/event/5823/registrations.html. Information on the race is available at www.piraeusportrun.gr.

(File photo)