Marathon Opening Ceremony

Featuring the Parade of Nations and Inaugural Hall of Fame Presentation

Friday, November 4, 2011

The ING New York City Marathon has grown from its humble origins as a four-lap race in Central Park to a spectacular week-long celebration of global diversity and human potential and achievement. In that spirit, New York Road Runners added a new event to marathon weekend this year: the Marathon Opening Ceremony on Friday evening, November 4. NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg opened the MOC by welcoming the more than 20,000 international runners from 125 countries who are entered in Sunday's marathon. "Every year, on the first Sunday in November, runners from around the world come here to perform on the greatest stage in front of our amazing two million New York City fans," she said. "What better way to open our 'people's Olympics' than with an Olympic-style opening ceremony?" The ceremony included a Parade of Nations and the induction of running legends Fred Lebow and Grete Waitz into the NYRR Hall of Fame, and it was followed by Poland Spring Presents the Marathon Fireworks.

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Legendary sports commentator Al Trautwig kicked off the festivities.
NYRR chairman of the board George Hirsch presented the Abebe Bikila Award to two-time New York City Marathon champion (1994-95) and humanitarian German Silva of Mexico.
Allan Steinfeld, former NYRR president and CEO (1994-2005), accepted the Hall of Fame honor on behalf of his mentor Fred Lebow, who passed away in 1994.
Jack Waitz, who will run the marathon on Sunday, accepted the Hall of Fame honor on behalf of his wife, nine-time New York City Marathon champion Grete Waitz, who died of cancer earlier this year.
ING New York City Marathon 2009 champion Meb Keflezighi of the United States and Edison Pena of Chile, who finished last year's marathon just three weeks after his rescue from 69 days in a mine, ceremoniously crossed the finish line. Both will run on Sunday.
Edison Pena, Jack Waitz, and Meb Keflezighi.