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You should always make sure you fit enough to take part in any sports or events before entering (or at least give yourself plenty of time to train). This is also the case for all of the events and trips that we at Sports Tours International offer. For some events however, this is not just advice, it’s a rule. In some cases, you have to provide a medical certificate prior to participating in an event. The certificate needs to state that you are physically fit to participate safely.
Event organisers in the following countries will usually ask you to provide a sporting medical certificate:
Currently there is no requirement for medical certification in Belgium, Netherlands, Japan, UK, USA, South Africa, Germany, Spain or Switzerland. You may be asked to self-certificate for certain events (such as the BMW Berlin Marathon)
While, in some cases, membership into a sports governing body (such as British Triathlon or England Athletics) will cover your need for a medical certificate, this is not always the case. Be sure to check requirements carefully prior to registering to make sure you’re covered.
Many events will provide a sample form that you can print out and take to your doctor. The cost of this varies massively depending on where you live. Some doctors will give you the form for free or with a very small cost. We’ve heard reports of doctors asking for as much as £100 in some cases. Usually your doctor will perform some simple tests like measure your heart rate and blood pressure and he can make an informed opinion based on your fitness and medical history.
If you cannot get a medical certificate from your GP for whatever reason like lack of time or cost then our recommendation is to make use of an online medical certification organisation such as Sports Medical Certificates. With online certification such as this, there is a bank of qualified doctors able to analyse the information which you supply and then decide whether or not medical authorisation can be granted. It may be more convenient than taking time off work to go to your doctor to sign the form.
France has a great history and tradition of mass participation events. From being the birthplace of Triathlon ( Course des Trois Sports), to the home of the biggest bike race on Earth (Le Tour de France). Paris is Europe’s 2nd most visited city, pulling in some 15.8 million visitors a year. There is something for everyone in this hive of art and culture and life. The ‘city of light’ is home to some of the world’s top attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre (home to the iconic Mona Lisa), and the-Élysées, which runs between Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde and is widely regarded as one of the world’s most famous commercial streets.
The Paris – Roubaix Challenge and Liege Bastogne Liege Challenge DO NOT currently require a medical certificate.
They say ‘all roads lead to Rome’. Once the heart of the mighty Roman Empire Italy is packed with history and culture. Nowhere is this more evident than in the capital, Rome itself, where the Renaissance clashes with the classical world on almost every street corner. The Rome Marathon starts and finishes in the shadow of the great Colosseum and takes it’s runners on a great tour of the city’s rich history en route. Italy also has a strong cycling pedigree. It is home to one of the three Gand Tours and two of the Monuments of Cycling. In 2022 Italy will also play host to the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships, which are set to take place in Trento.
Rome Marathon enforce the rules as set by the Italian Athletics Federation. In order to encourage more International runners, there are various methods of certification that runners may apply for.
To simplify, there will be a number of options:
Run Card Link to Purchase if required: www.runcard.com
Medical Certificate Link if required: http://www.fidal.it/upload/files/Organizzazione/2019/Running/inglese_4.pdf
The venue of the third and final Grand Tour of the year, the Vuelta a Espana, as well as many other famous cycling and running events. Spain’s year round warm climate and vastly varied landscape make it a firm favourite of holiday makers and sports people from all over the world. Many of the world’s top cyclists and triathletes choose to live for either some or part of the year in Spain or one of the many Spanish islands. Many of Spain’s newer mass participation events such as the Mallorca 312 have fast gained in reputation and are now among the most popular cycling events in the world.
Please note, Sports Tours International cannot be held responsible for any failure to produce the required medical certification. It is up to participants to organise this.
And please do not forget, you should always take out adequate and appropriate travel insurance which covers you from the moment you book your trip with us, through to the moment you return. For details of specialist sports travel insurance for our travel packages, please visit our insurance page.
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