When sport joins civilization (with a little help from the sponsors, why not) people can do smart things. Even if it's raining and there is the "acqua alta" (high tide)...

txt: Adopt a Bridge for Venice - www.venicemarathon.it

Thirteen are the typical Venetian bridges that the marathon runners meet in the last miles of the route, before reaching the finish line of Riva Sette Martiri. These 13 bridges, normally, would represent a really insuperable obstacle for the disabled athletes competing in wheelchairs. However, in occasion of the marathon, bridges are equipped with wooden ramps that help not only the wheelchairs, but also the runners, the residents and the tourists to experience Venice in easier manner. The introduction of the wooden ramps goes back to the very first edition of the Venicemarathon, however, it's in 2005 that the marathon organising committee reaches an agreement with the Architectural Barriers Elimination Office of the City of Venice in order to exted the period of availability of the ramps from a few days to several weeks. Thanks to this project, for almost two months every year, before and after the marathon, Venice acquires an accessibility otherwise impossible.

 

txt: 25th Venicemarathon - Oscar Pistorius: The next three days will be full of fun and sport

The last one to give his welcome was Oscar Pistorius: “This is the third year that I came at the Venicemarathon and to be here on the occasion of its 25th anniversary is a great pleasure for me. I am not a marathoner but a sports man and here you can find always many young people. I am the testimonial of “Venice Accessible – the barriers are overcome just by running” and I will run the Family Run on Saturday morning, there will be many wheelchair athletes….therefore these three days will be a time to do sports and have fun.