After 2020’s forced stop due to the pandemic, last Saturday, 28 August 2021, the port and the city of Venice hosted the 5th edition of the Venice Night Trail, made possible also thanks to the collaboration of the Port Community which allowed access to the wider port area, ensuring full compliance with anti-covid 19 provisions.
A well-established and eagerly awaited sporting event in Venice, the “night city trail” was organised by the Venicemarathon Club and was sponsored and technically supported by the Port System Authority: in fact, the over 3000 athletes had the chance of running along the waterfront of the Historic Centre of Venice but were also allowed to use the “Marittima” passenger port area, where a “Running Village” was set up at Cruise Terminal 123. Here all the athletes were welcomed and instructed, received their race bibs and packs and all relevant accessory services.
In addition, facilities were set up to display (food and non-food) products for sports enthusiasts.
Marittima was chosen as the place of departure and arrival of the ring route of the race both on account of the excellent accessibility of the passenger port and the need to comply with health regulations against Covid 19, which imposed physical distancing rules. That called for improved logistics and the Port Community, with Venezia Terminal Passeggeri S.p.A. leading the effort, gave its contribution by granting access to the port area, so that athletes could arrive by car and enjoy much larger spaces during all phases of the Venice Night Trial.
In addition, the Port System Authority, the Harbourmaster’s Office, the Customs Agency, the Guardia di Finanza and the Border Police were all involved according to their specific areas of responsibility to ensure that the route reserved for the athletes – which covered 16 km and 51 bridges – was monitored and safe.