Chicago, USA | October 2025
The biggest sporting events do not become successful by accident. Behind every detail are years of development, thousands of hours of planning and an ongoing commitment from organizers to continuously improve the participant experience. That is why taking part in the Chicago Marathon, one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors and an event that brought together more than 53,000 runners in 2025, was a valuable opportunity to gain new knowledge and experience.
As part of a delegation of race organizers led by the Belgrade Marathon at the invitation of the Chicago Marathon organizers, Sombor Half Marathon race director Damir Marković had the opportunity to observe from close range the organization of one of the world’s most complex sporting events.
A special part of the programme was the Race Management Program (RMP), designed for race organizers and focused on modern approaches to planning, safety, logistics, communications and improving the participant experience. Volunteering during the marathon itself added another valuable perspective, as working “behind the scenes” provides one of the most realistic insights into how an event of this scale actually operates.
For Somaraton Events, experiences like this have a much broader significance than simply attending a major sporting event. They provide an opportunity to adapt the best practices from around the world to local conditions and apply them to events that contribute to the development of communities, sport and destinations.
We believe that every major sporting event can be much more than a race. When professionally organized, it can become a driver of tourism development, city promotion and new partnerships. That is why we are committed to learning from the best and turning the knowledge we gain into better events in Serbia.