Sarajevo Run Fest officially started with this morning’s Crvena jabuka market Bambini marathon, which filled Ferhadija with children’s joy, cheering and a family atmosphere. The race gathered hundreds of children between the ages of two and six, who took their first running steps with the strong support of parents, friends and numerous visitors.
The youngest participants mastered the 210-meter long course through Sarajevo’s most famous promenade, showing that there is no lower age limit for the love of sports. Smiles at the start and finish line, the pride of parents and the applause of the audience turned the city center into a cheerful sports stage.
After the race, the gathering continued at Alija Izetbegović Square with music, games and entertainment for the whole family. The program enabled the youngest to remember their first encounter with the atmosphere of a major sporting event as a day filled with movement, friendship and good fun.
The director of the Sarajevo Marathon Association, Goran Ćorić, emphasized the special significance of the Bambini marathon within the Sarajevo Run Fest.
“The Bambini Marathon traditionally kicks off the Sarajevo Run Fest and is our favorite and most joyful race. Children truly enjoy it, and through this event, we are doing something essential for all of us: steering them toward sports and healthy lifestyle habits. We want to draw them away from phones, screens, and sedentary behavior, fostering a habit of movement and sports participation. The experience of crossing the finish line and earning a medal – whether first, second, or third – can spark a lifelong love for running or another sport,” said Ćorić.
He added that the specific sport the children choose later matters less than instilling good habits from an early age, making the Bambini Marathon the most significant race of the entire event.
The Crvena Jabuka Market Bambini Marathon once again demonstrated that the Sarajevo Run Fest is not just for experienced runners and recreational athletes, but for the entire community, creating a space where sports bring together children, parents, and all generations.
The Sarajevo Run Fest program continues on Sunday, September 13. The Persil Sarajevo Half Marathon and Metromedia Sarajevo 5K will start at 8:30 AM at Marijin Dvor, while the 2.7-kilometer Fun Run is scheduled to begin at 8:45 AM. This year’s festival will bring together more than 3,000 professional runners, recreational athletes, and young participants from over 50 countries.
Partners of the Sarajevo Run Fest include Persil, Vivia, Powerade, Sport Vision, Adidas, Crvena Jabuka Market, Metromedia Group, BH Telecom, and the Skenderija Center. The event was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Canton of Sarajevo, the Tourist Board of the Canton of Sarajevo, the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Ministry of Transport of the Canton of Sarajevo, the Ministry of the Interior of the Canton of Sarajevo and the Municipality of Stari Grad.
