Copenhagen Marathon introduces lottery system and bans ticket resale

The Copenhagen Marathon will allocate next year’s starting spots through a lottery system, replacing the previous first-come, first-served model, Danish broadcaster DR reports. The change has drawn sharp criticism from runners, with organizers acknowledging that “no matter what we do, there is criticism.”

Starting this week, prospective participants can register for the 2025 race until June 3, after which a random draw will determine who secures one of the 23,000 available spots. The shift aims to ensure fairer access, according to event director Lars Nissen of Sparta, the organization behind the marathon.

“From our perspective, this is due diligence,” Nissen told DR, noting that a similar lottery system was introduced for the Copenhagen Half Marathon after complaints about difficulty securing entries. Demand for the full marathon has continued to rise, with last year’s race selling out in under 24 hours.

The new rules also prohibit the resale of bib numbers, a practice previously allowed if runners were injured or unable to train. Instead, participants can purchase a 99-kroner insurance policy to recoup costs in case of unforeseen circumstances like acute illness. Nissen defended the change, citing past issues with fraud and unsold resale tickets: “Hundreds were left holding numbers they couldn’t resell before this year’s race.”

Elite runners and members of Danish athletics clubs will remain exempt from the lottery, with guaranteed access through invitations or the Danish Athletics Federation. Nissen acknowledged frustration among runners but emphasized the need to manage overwhelming demand, driven by both local interest and Copenhagen’s appeal as a travel destination.

“Many of those leaving angry comments are frustrated because it’s hard to get a spot,” he said. “We recognize that, but we’re trying to handle massive demand.”

Tags: denmark, marathon, sports events