The Marathon Flame travelled recently to South Africa, following an invitation by the International Maritzburg Marathon Organizing Committee and the City Authorities. The Marathon Flame was taken to Pietermaritzburg on the occasion of the local Marathon Race and it was honoured throughout the event, while it was taken from the Durban Airport to the Host City by a torch relay in which more than 30 Marathon runners partcipated. The Flame remained lit throughout the event in a cauldron set up in the start area. The Marathon Flame was taken to South Africa by Xenia Argeitaki and Marika Kardara both Members of the SEGAS Executive Board, as well as by Stamatia Mylona, Marathon Vice-Mayor and Georgios Bairaktaris both representing the Municipality of Marathon.


The Marathon Flame traveled to South Africa within the framework of an exchange program launched by the Athens Classic Marathon Organizing Committee and supported by AIMS, according to which the Marathon Flame visits other cities hosting International Marathon Races upon invitation by the organizers. The last years, the Marathon Flame has visited Prague (Czech Republic), Omsk (Russia), Vienna (Austria), Xiamen and Shanghai (China), Belgrade (Serbia), Boston and Chicago (USA), Toronto (Canada), Mumbai (India) and Quito (Ecuador). This is the first time that the Marathon Flame visits a country in Africa.