Il-Ġirja t'Għawdex

Running is a very popular sport in Malta and the sister island (Gozo) can be attributed as pioneers in this line of sporting heritage. Il-Ġirja t’Għawdex, organized by Run Gozo is the oldest organized running event in the Maltese Islands, dating back to 1977. Initially done as a community event in Xagħra, it has recently grown into one of the main and most-
innovative running events in Malta. It provides the perfect opportunity for runners to test their abilities and take in the island's beautiful scenery. Gozo's mild climate also makes it a great destination for runners looking to escape the cold weather in the winter. Whether you're a casual runner or a seasoned competitor, this event offers something for everyone, as apart from our internationally-recognized Half Marathon and 10K, we also offer several other races targeted at different strata of runners. Fully organized by volunteers all hailing from Gozo, this running event has gone from strength to strength in the past few years with a peak attendance of more than 1,500 athletes in 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and being the first Maltese group to organize a Running EXPO which was held at the majestic Ggantija Temples (UNESCO World Heritage Site), also in 2019. However, this momentum was paused following the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 event had to be postponed and instead, the team decided to organize the first virtual run to ever take place in the Maltese Islands. This went down well with our athletes and since things did not improve in 2021 (COVID-wise), another virtual run was organized. In total, around 1,000 athletes from more than 40 countries took place in both editions of these virtual runs. For this work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the group was nominated for the Niche Tourism Award during the Gozo Tourism Awards, which were held in January 2023. In 2022, we were also the first in-person running event to take place in Gozo post-pandemic. See you in April 2024 for the 49th edition.