Pula Marathon hosts inaugural Friendship Run to celebrate Italian sport

The eighth edition of the Pula Marathon in Croatia featured the debut of the ‘Corsa dell’Amicizia’ (Friendship Run), an initiative organized by the Embassy of Italy in Croatia to celebrate the National Italian Sport Day in the World.

Supported by the Unione Italiana and the Federation of Associations of Istrian, Fiuman, and Dalmatian Exiles (FederEsuli), the event allowed 200 runners to participate in a 5.99 km race. Italian Ambassador Paolo Trichilo attended the event, emphasizing how sport promotes values of dialogue, inclusion, and peace, which underpin the relations between Italy and Croatia.

The broader marathon event saw approximately 2,500 participants from Croatia and 40 other countries. Notable winners included Luka Poppe from the Netherlands in the men’s 5.99 km category, and Karmen Fabris and Barbara Belušić in the women’s categories.