The 32nd SPAR Budapest Marathon® Festival took place on 14 and 15 October with a record number of runners, totalling 31,920. In addition to experienced athletes, first-time marathon runners and numerous celebrities also participated. The running festival provided entertainment for about 100,000 people, and following an appeal from SPAR Hungary and the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, also provided the opportunity for the collection of 1,000 books for children in need.

The international participation at this year’s event was hugely impressive with 17% of all marathon runners coming from abroad, representing 81 countries. Most of the runners came from Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany.

This year, SPAR Hungary introduced several novel ideas such as taste-testing of products from the SPAR Partner’s own Meat-Processing Plant. Visitors were also able to get dietary and exercise-related advice from experts of the SPAR Életmód lifestyle programme, which had successfully been promoted in SPAR stores throughout the country leading up to the marathon. The revenue generated from activities organised by SPAR Hungary was donated to charitable causes.

SPAR Hungary also promoted the programme, Bringing the playground here!, together with its strategic partner, the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service. The programme saw mobile playgrounds being brought to more than 300 villages throughout Hungary – creating a lot of joy for numerous children. To the delight of many families, the mobile playground was available to try at the running festival.

Watch this video on the SPAR Budapest Marathon 2017.