Big News! Go to Athens to Run the Authentic Marathon!

HCC-SW in cooperation with Apostolos Greek Tours Inc. is currently developing a program that will allow more athletes to travel to Greece to participate in the Authentic Athens Marathon, along with the winners.

You can register on our website so you can receive the details as soon as they will be available

The Houston-Athens Marathon Exchange (HAME), a project of THE HCC-SW, is the only program of its type in the United States.

Founded in 1988 by George Sarantopoulos, an avid runner who participated in the Athens and Houston marathons, and several fellow Greek-Americans, the HAME  was envisioned as an exchange program linking the ancient Greek running tradition with the modern international marathons to foster goodwill between two great nations.  The idea was so successful it was created with the full blessing and support of Melina Mercouri, Minister of Culture in Greece.  The marathon organization has continued this unique exchange and is now in its 31st year. 

The Athens Classic Marathon

Founded in 1982, the Athens Authentic Marathon attracts Greek runners as well as many international runners.  The finish line is located at the Panathenaic Stadium, where a crowd of 70,000 spectators once cheered Spiros Louis to victory and the 2004 Olympic Games marathoners.  Its course approximates the run by Pheidippedes in 490 BC and Spiros Louis in 1896.

Buy online tickets here

Read more: The 31st Annual Houston-Athens Marathon Exchange

Update on Marathon Exchange 

and the winners are...

Radia Silva of Sugar Land and Ryan Terry of Missouri city are the next two marathon runners that will be sent to run the Authentic Marathon in Athens Greece!

The Marathon is scheduled on Sunday, November 10th, 2019, and according to the organizers, it will draw more than 63,000 runners!

We all wish to them to come back, winners!

The Spirit of Marathon Exhibit

The wonderful and professionally constructed  exhibit titled The Spirit of Marathon that the Marathon Exchange Group has been able to get to Houston is now on display at the HBU Campus in the BRADSHAW FITNESS CENTER, 7721 SW FRWY.

It is open to the members of the Fitness Center, HBU students and others and will be on display thru March 9th.

The display is Hellenism personified. The exhibit was  a focal point of interest during the Chevron Houston Marathon EXPO in January and then moved to the ANNUNCIATION ORTHODOX SCHOOL (AOS) for three weeks and then transferred to HBU and will return to BOSTON for their EXPO prior to the running of the Boston Marathon.

The Marathon Exchange Group is proud and pleased to have been able to bring this exhibit to Houston made possible thru the generosity of The National Hellenic Museum of Chicago and the National Hellenic Society (NHS).