FRENCH ATHLETICS JOURNALIST ALAIN LUNZENFICHTER TO BE HONOURED WITH THE AIMS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Athletics writer will be presented with his Award at the 2019 AIMS Best Marathon Runner Gala
The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) representing many of the world’s greatest distance races including ‘Athens Marathon. The Authentic’, Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Comrades, New York, Paris & Tokyo Marathons is delighted to recognise Alain Lunzenfichter, an icon of athletics journalism with the AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award.
Alain will receive the Award at the seventh annual AIMS ‘Best Marathon Runner’ (BMR) Awards Gala to be held in the birthplace of the Marathon in Athens, Greece on Friday 8 November 2019.
Alain Lunzenfichter (70) held the position of Deputy Editor of L’Equipe in France for 38 years between 1975 and 2013 where he covered 17 Olympic games.
He also worked with Canal+ in their coverage of athletics, marathons and Olympic games. In 2006 he became President of the ‘World Association of Olympic Journalists’ until 2014 when he was made Honorary President.
Throughout his career he has had many books published and has held many leadership roles within athletics and journalism. He has been appointed to various International Olympic Committee (IOC) commissions including Anti-Doping, IOC Reform, Press, Culture and Communication.
AIMS President Paco Borao comments: “We are very pleased to welcome Alain to Athens to celebrate his distinguished career. It is said that journalists write the ‘first draft of history’. If this is the case, Alain is responsible for writing large parts of the history of our sport”.
Alain Lunzenfichter comments: “It is an honour to be recognised with the AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award. I am looking forward to coming to Athens to spent time with my friends in the running community. It has always been a privilege to cover the sport and so many great champions. When I see the previous winners of this Award, I feel greatly humbled to be awarded alongside them. Thank you to AIMS and their Members for presenting me with this Award.”
About the AIMS ‘Best Marathon Runner’ Awards Gala
The purpose of the BMR Award Gala is to:
I. Announce and honour the best male and female Marathon runners of the year through the AIMS BEST MARATHON RUNNER (BMR) Award.
II. Recognise and honour exceptional Marathon figureheads and personalities for their contribution to the development of the Marathon movement.
III. Publicise and promote the best practice and initiatives of AIMS members (460+ race organisers) through the establishment of special environmental and social awards.
IV. Enhance the role, programs and services of AIMS.
The event will be staged in Athens, Greece on Friday 8 November 2019 and is co-organised with the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), ‘Athens Marathon. The Authentic.’ and the Region of Attica, held under the kind sponsorship of the ‘Greek National Tourism Organisation’ and ‘Athens International Airport’.
Previous Recipients of the AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award
2013 - Ingrid Kristiansen
2014 – George Hirsch
2015 – Frank Shorter
2016 - Haile Gebrselassie
2017 – Rosa Mota
2018 – Hiroaki Chosa & Horst Milde
About AIMS
AIMS is a member based organisation and since being established in 1982 has grown to a membership of more than 460 of the world’s leading distance races, from over 120 countries and territories. AIMS Members come from every continent on the planet and include the ‘Athens Marathon. The Authentic’ formed on the legend of Pheidippides, the Greek soldier-runner who ran from the town of Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the Persians had been defeated in the ‘Battle of Marathon’. Other AIMS members include many of the world’s greatest distance races in history such as the Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Comrades, New York, Paris & Tokyo Marathons. The three key objectives of AIMS are:
- To foster and promote distance running throughout the world
- To work with the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) on all matters relating to international road races.
- To exchange information, knowledge and expertise among members of the association
For further information on AIMS please visit: www.AIMS-worldrunning.org.
For further information, please contact:
Peter McLean, Director of Public Relations
Association of International Marathons & Distance Races
C/o PMPR Excellence Ltd,
Windsor House, 15 Kirklee Terrace,
Kelvinside, Glasgow, Scotland, G12 0TJ
Mobile:00-44-(0)-774-037-1909
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web: www.prexcellence.com
