20KM de Paris
The Paris 20 Kilometres (Paris 20 km) is an annual 20-kilometre road running competition that takes place in the streets of Paris, France, in October. First held in 1979, the race attracts high-level international competitors and has an IAAF Silver Label.
The competition was the brainchild of Michel Jazy, a French runner who is a former Olympic medallist and two-time European champion.
The race course is a double loop, in the shape of a figure eight. The starting point of the race is at the Trocadero, near the Eiffel Tower, and the runners cross the river Seine via the Pont d'Iéna. It heads in a counter-clockwise loop through the Bois de Boulogne before completing a smaller, clockwise loop along the banks of the Seine. The finishing point is the Musée du Quai Branly. The original distance of the race was 20.3 km, but was reduced to 20 km in 1981.
The race organisers abide by their own ethical charter which, in addition to describing typical race rules and safety issues, includes the objectives of increasing the inclusion of women in the sport of running and the promotion of environmentally friendly attitudes.