Rules
RACE RULES
6th INTERNATIONAL ULTRA RACE ΄΄RIOΟLYMPIA΄΄
RΙΟ-OLYMPIA 2025
THE ORGANIZERS
The International Ultra Race RIO – OLYMPIA is organized by the Athletics Association “OLYMPIOI”, founded in Athens and by an Organizing Committee especially created to carry out this project.
THE RACE
The ultra race RIOLYMPIA is 144 kms long to be run in 32 hours. The event is run in one stage and semi-autonomy is the individual principle of racing.
The race takes place on the 26 &27 April 2025 and it starts from Rio (Northern Peloponese) at 09.00 on Saturday the 26th and finishes on Sunday 27st at 17h00 in front of the Archeological site of Olympia.
CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
The athlete must be fully aware of the race’s length, its specificities and be adequately trained to cope with them. The race‘s route climbs up the mountains of Panahaikon and Erymanthos, gets through the community of Kalentzi, the Foloi woodland, and terminates at Olympia.
The athlete must accept the race’s rules to enter the race. He must also provide the Organizers with a certificate issued by an Athletic Club confirming he has participated and terminated a race of 100km over the last 2 years.
The athlete must be capable of running in semi-autonomy.
The athlete must be informed that Check-Points stand about 8-10km apart from each other and he has to carry with him at least ½ l of water.
The athlete must be informed that the Organizers’ role is not to help the athlete overcome his problems resulting from fatigue or strain. This is his own responsibility.
Athletes can enter the race from the age of 19 years old.
Athletes must be at the starting point of the race 30’ prior to the start.
Athletes have to behave politely with their fellow-runners, the Organizers, the local people manning the C.P. They are all volunteers. Athletes must show respect to the natural environment and keep it clean from any pollution they might cause.
Athletes accompanied by supporters must have them registered with the Organizing Committee and stick on their cars posters they will be given identifying both the runner and the supporter. The fee for the supporter must be paid into the Bank account at the same time with that of the athlete’s.
Records of the athlete’s timing are kept at every C .P.
MEDICAL TEAM-SECURITY ON THE RACE ROUTE–ANTI-DOPING CONTROL
A team of M.D. and physiotherapists are present at certain C.P. to provide runners with a medical care if needed. Such a care cannot be provided neither at any moment nor at any place along the race route. The athlete has to call on his mobile either a doctor or the Organizing Committee if he needs help.
In case of emergency the athlete will be transported to the nearest hospital or local Medical Centre by the Organizers. Such a service is provided free of charge.
The athlete calling on a doctor submits himself to his authority and undertakes to accept his decisions.
A doctor will be attending on runners, at the Hotel in Olympia, as soon as they arrive there to offer his services if needed.
The athlete must comply with a doctor’s decision to undergo an anti-doping control.
In case of refusal the competitor will be put out of the race.
The whole length of the race route comes under the surveillance of volunteers and experienced rescuing teams. They cross each other along every section of the route and are ready to intervene in case of emergency.
ENROLMENT CONDITIONS
The competitor must download from the site the following documents and send them to the Organizers by e-mail or by post in order to validate his enrolment in the race:
The Entry Form to be filled, signed by the runner and sent before the 30/3/2025
A medical certificate signed, dated and stamped by a doctor certifying that the competitor is apt to take part in a race of 144 km. It must be established within the 30 days prior to the race.
A formal declaration confirming the competitor’s acceptance of the race’s conditions of participation and those of the waiver’s clause.
The competitor will be informed on his participation in the race within the week following the reception of his Entry Form.
The enrolment fee must be paid into the Organization’s Bank account before the 30/3/2025
The enrolment fee for runners is payable into the following Bank account at the same time:
ALPHA BANK : IBAN GR76 0140 1590 1590 0200 2009 792 (ΟLΥΜPΙΟΙ) and BIC no CRBAGRAA.
The competitors and their supporters are offered the same services by the Organizers.
The names of the participating athletes will be up on the site.
ATHLETES’ BIB NUMBERS
The bib numbers will be delivered to the athletes at the start point in Rio on the day of the race
Athletes will also have a T-shirt, the poster of the race, a document of the race route, a Road-Book if they have a supporter and souvenirs from the Organizers.
The athlete bears his number in front and on his back on top of his vest and takes care to be visible at any moment.
In case of abandoning the race the athlete hands his number to the responsible of the C.P and signs the relevant document. In case that the athlete wishes to continue racing he can do it under his personal responsibility and in complete autonomy.
THE ATHLETE’S SUPPORTER
The supporter has to attend the briefing on the eve of the race and be informed on the race route. A Road-Book is given to the supporter with the special itinerary mapped out for him to follow and posters to stick on his vehicle to identify both the athlete and himself.
The supporter’s attention is drawn to the strict compliance with the following:
The supporter is NOT allowed to enter parts of the race route ONLY accessible to Organizers, Medical team and press. He must be keeping on the route indicated in the Road-Book.
The supporter is not allowed to assist the runner in whatever way while he is running between two C.P. Assistance is offered ONLY at C.P.
The supporter leaves a C.P a few minutes later after the athlete has moved on.
Press vehicles covering the race have to keep clear of the athletes for not raising suspicions of help to them. Violation of this recommendation leads to the removal of the vehicle’s plates and passengers’ permission to follow the race.
All officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, press correspondents, medical team have to be registered with the Organizing Committee and be delivered the special posters to stick on their vehicles for their identification during the course.
All competitors relinquish their right to photographic copyright during the race.
The Organizers are entitled to take pictures of the athletes or video to use it for updating the website and keep it in the records of the Association.
The transfer of the athletes from Athens to Rio and from Olympia to Athens is in the charge of the Organizers.
CHECK POINTS ELIMINATION AND CONTROL POINTS
There will be 18 C.Ps along the race route manned by volunteers.
The approximate distance between C.P. is about 8-12 km. There might be some slight variations according to the relief of the terrain at parts.
At every C.P. there will be a board indicating the No of the C.P., the kilometre of its location and the distance to the next one.
C.P. tables will be provided with a large variety of food-stuff, water and energizing drinks Cola, tea, coffee, dried and fresh fruit, raisins, salty and sweet biscuits, yoghourt, rice-pudding, bread, honey, chocolates, sugar cubes, cheese and hot soup and pasta at night.
A detailed list of C.P. with the timing (indication of opening and closing hours), their location and their equipment will be up on the site.
Athletes are requested not to carry food away from C.P with the exception of water or any other drink.
The athlete’s personal items will be delivered to C.P. following the tag on the bag. The remaining items not used by the athlete will be taken to the hotel with the exception of perishable ones, fruit, etc.
The athlete reaching a C.P. with a delay of 10’ is entitled to continue racing provided he reaches the next one within the time limit.
The Organizers reserve the right to modify at any moment the route and the positioning of the C.P. without warning.
The athlete reaching the last but one C.P. with a delay of 20’ is entitled to terminate the race keeping the advantage of this delay.
The recorded timing of the athlete at every C.P. is the timing at the minute the athlete moves on from the C.P.
SIGNPOSTING
Material for signposting will be:
Plastic red/yellow ribbons. Pieces of these ribbons will be attached to trees and others will stretch horizontally for a more obvious marking as required at various parts of the route.
They will be removed at the closing of every section of the race.
Way markers for better night vision. They include a yellow reflective material which will be easily visible. They will hang closely to each other to indicate the right direction.
Athletes must keep following them overnight. If you cannot see markers on your way any more retrace your steps.
They will be removed at the closing of the night sections.
Red and yellow ecological painting to mark the direction to follow, mainly at cross-roads.
Small hardboard pieces marked with the number of the kilometre in red and the initials of the race D-D-O, spotted every five kms so that the runner is always aware of his position along the race route helping him also distinguish his own route in connection with other road signing often visible on mountain pathways.
In case the athlete deviates from the right direction he must return to the point he lost his way and keep racing after he feels reassured he is not mistaken any longer. If this does not happen he has to call on his mobile one of the Organizers or the responsible at the nearest C.P. for help.
The deviation of the athlete from the right direction does not lead to any penalty for him.
A detailed list with signposting material and their use will be posted on the site.
RACE EQUIPMENT FOR THE ATHLETE
A mobile telephone (a must). The athletes will be given the numbers of race officials to contact them in case of serious problem.
A stock of water minimum ½ l (a must).
A torch with replacement batteries
A pair of long running trousers or leggings
1 – 2 pairs of socks
A thin pullover (if wished)
A pair of gloves-a cap and a hat
A light water-proof jacket
The use of batons is allowed
The athlete may carry a small quantity of food (if wished)
For security reasons the athlete is not allowed to carry a radio or any other sound producing device-Mp3
PENALTY DISQUALIFICATION
The following cases are likely to cause the athlete’s exclusion from the race
Taking serious shortcuts
Receive help outside authorized Check Points
Not passing through a control post
Refusal to comply with an order from a race official
Refusal to accept an anti-doping control
Departure from a control point after the time limit
Refusal to be submitted to a medical examination in case the athlete does not present a medical certificate
The athlete boarding a vehicle during the race
Any other case will be dealt with by the Organizers
COMPLAINTS
All objections must be written, signed and lodged with the Organizing Committee within one hour after the race is finished. They will be answered within the following week.
RANKING AND REWARDS
The RIOLYMPIA race extols the Olympic values and presents the modern “victors” with a wild-olive tree wreath the same one that crowned the Olympic victors 2500 years ago in Olympia.
A general classification men and women and a classification for each category men and women are established.
The three first men and the three first women will be presented with trophies.
All runners terminating the race will receive a commemorative medal and a Diploma.
Runners who did not terminate the race will receive a Diploma with the timing and the kilometres they have run at the moment they dropped out of the race.
