The third edition of the MaraTANA, “The race of Italians”, was held in Buenos Aires on 4 May, organised by the Italian Consulate General. This year, the event was honoured with the “Medal of the President of the Republic”.
More than just a sporting event promoting community spirit, the MaraTANA has become a traditional gathering for the Italian community in Buenos Aires — the largest Italian community outside Italy worldwide. It aims to promote and strengthen Italian identity and culture, as well as the lifestyle of our country, to enhance the Italian community, engage younger generations, and contribute to assistance projects for the less fortunate. The event carries a strong charitable purpose: part of the proceeds were donated to the “Casa de la Amistad” of the Sant’Egidio Community, which supports social assistance projects in Buenos Aires, focusing particularly on people in situations of extreme vulnerability.
The event saw significant participation, with 4,000 runners competing in distances of 3, 10 and 15 kilometres, and more broadly, the Italo-Argentine community taking part in the “Italy Space” set up for the occasion. This area featured Italian food trucks and stands with games and activities for children.
Participants received a race kit including the official event shirt, which this year was sky blue in colour, echoing the iconic jersey of the Italian national football team. At the end of the race, all participants were awarded a medal engraved with an image of an Italian monument in the capital: this year, Palazzo Alvear, which has housed the Italian Embassy in Argentina for one hundred years, celebrated in 2024.
