On 29 September 2024, Kazakhstan's largest city and former capital until 1997, Almaty, will host the thirteenth edition of the Almaty Marathon, the largest running event in Central Asia.

This competition has become a catalyst for change in the region, fostering a love of running among the people of Kazakhstan and having a tangible economic and social impact in Almaty and throughout the Trans-Ili Alatau mountain region.

In 2012, Kazakhstani entrepreneur Galimzhan Yessenov established the "Courage to be First" corporate foundation. Since then, the foundation has organised more than 100 events attended by more than 200,000 people from around the world.

The foundation's flagship project is the Almaty Marathon, which has become a major driver of Almaty's economic development by attracting tourists to the city and stimulating the growth of local businesses.

In addition to community income, the marathon raised a record $143,000 (€139,000) for charity last year. Each year, a portion of the registration fee is donated to children with special needs. In 12 years, the Foundation's team has implemented more than 30 charitable initiatives worth over $ 610,000 (€550,000)  and encouraged more than 3,000 children to take up sport.

The Almaty Marathon has had a significant economic impact on the city. Businesses associated with the event contributed $ 1.8 million (€1,65 m) in taxes last year, three times more than in 2019. These figures were revealed in the 2023 Impact Study conducted by the organising foundation.

According to the Foundation's research, almost half (46%) of the approximately 1,000 participants surveyed made purchases during the two-day event. Their total spending amounted to KZT 7.9 million (€15,300). The increase in the number of attendees, including international attendees, is driving revenue growth for service providers and boosting the local tourism industry.

The 2023 report also highlights that 56% of respondents acknowledged that the Almaty Marathon has contributed to infrastructure development, increased tourism and raised awareness of local businesses. As well as promoting physical activity and a running culture, the annual event has become a key driver of economic and social development in Almaty.

Galimzhan Yessenov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Courage to be First Foundation, commented on the impact of the marathon on the city: "When we launched the Almaty Marathon, our main goals were related to the development of sport and running culture. But today we can proudly say that the marathon and other races organised by the foundation have much wider benefits.

"It is extremely gratifying to see that the Almaty Marathon has had such a huge economic and social impact on the city. The marathon has increased access to sport for the people of the city and the region. It has brought significant economic value to the region, stimulating the growth of tourism and related industries," said Yessenov.

He also highlighted the charitable component of the project: "We are proud that the Almaty Marathon has become not only a sporting event, but also a tool for the development of the city and its residents."

The marathon is a qualifying event for the Abbott World Marathon Majors, with a course set against the stunning backdrop of the Zailiyskiy Alatau Mountains, offering participants the opportunity to explore one of the most underrated parts of Central Asia.