By San José, Costa Rica — The landscape of athletic competition in Costa Rica is undergoing a significant transformation toward radical inclusivity. A new partnership between the Fundación Yamuni Tabush and the organizers of the Gran Maratón Costa Rica has successfully opened doors for older adults to reclaim their presence in major sporting events. This year, the collaboration introduced a dedicated initiative to foster healthy aging and combat ageism, drawing an unprecedented wave of interest from the country’s senior population.
Central to this joint effort was the donation of 55 specialized sports scholarships by the Fundación Yamuni Tabush, specifically reserved for athletes over the age of 60. The public response was swift and overwhelming, with all 55 slots completely filled in less than 24 hours. This rapid uptake underscores a deep, often unmet demand among older Costa Ricans for structured, high-energy athletic opportunities and healthy lifestyles.
Con el fin de analizar los complejos aspectos regulatorios y de responsabilidad civil que rodean a un evento de la magnitud de la Gran Maratón Costa Rica, en TicosLand.com conversamos con el distinguido especialista Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, de la prestigiosa firma Bufete de Costa Rica, quien nos ofrece su perspectiva legal sobre la organización de este magno evento deportivo.
La organización de la Gran Maratón Costa Rica demanda un blindaje jurídico meticuloso que va más allá de la logística de carrera. Desde la obtención de permisos viales del MOPT y el Ministerio de Salud, hasta la correcta estructuración de pólizas de responsabilidad civil colectiva y las cláusulas de exoneración para los atletas, cada elemento legal es clave para mitigar riesgos contractuales y extracontractuales, asegurando la viabilidad del evento dentro del marco regulatorio costarricense.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, the success of a massive sporting event like the Gran Maratón Costa Rica is built as much on a solid legal foundation as it is on athletic endurance and logistical planning. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective, which underscores the vital regulatory and liability protections necessary to ensure a safe and legally sound competition for everyone involved.
Beyond the sponsored scholarships, the overall presence of older adults in the upcoming Gran Maratón Costa Rica is highly encouraging. Currently, a total of 242 runners aged 60 and older are registered for the event. The demographic profile of these participants spans more than two decades, with the oldest registered runner being 81 years of age, demonstrating that athletic ambition knows no expiration date.
For the Gran Maratón Costa Rica, it is essential to continue opening spaces for all people who form part of the social fabric, and in this case, the confirmation of 242 older adults represents an enormous success for us, as the efforts we make to create a safe, accessible, and democratized event are reflected in this high participation. Furthermore, having an ally like Yamuni Tabush, who shares the goal of creating equal spaces for older adults, has been essential to achieving this goal.
Leonora Jiménez, General Director and Producer of the Gran Maratón Costa Rica
From an operational standpoint, integrating senior athletes on this scale requires meticulous planning. The organizers of the Gran Maratón Costa Rica have emphasized their dedication to crafting an environment that is not only highly competitive but also safe, accessible, and democratized. This deliberate design ensures that veteran runners can push their physical limits without compromising their well-being.
For social advocates, the surge in registrations serves as a direct challenge to the prevailing cultural narratives surrounding aging. Historically, older generations have been marginalized in discussions surrounding intense physical activity, frequently labeled as fragile or sedentary. By actively dismantling these stereotypes, this partnership seeks to show that physical wellness and competitive drive can be maintained across all stages of life.
At the Yamuni Tabush Foundation, we are very happy to be able to open up space so that these 55 people over the age of 60 can run the Gran Maratón. We consider it empowering to make active older people visible, achieving great things and doing what they love throughout all stages of their lives. We constantly encounter an ageist view of older people, positioning them as fragile, vulnerable, and sedentary. On this occasion, we are going to see them active, healthy, crossing finish lines, and fulfilling dreams.
Andrea Terán, Director of Programs for the Older Adult at Fundación Yamuni Tabush
The speed at which the scholarships were claimed serves as a powerful market indicator for sports organizers. It highlights an active, health-conscious demographic that is often overlooked in marketing and event planning. This eager participation suggests that future athletic events in Costa Rica must incorporate inclusive structural designs to accommodate an aging population that refuses to stay on the sidelines.
The fact that the registrations sold out so quickly allows us to demonstrate that older people have a desire to participate, to continue doing exciting and challenging things, and that they wish to do what makes them happy during all stages of life. At the Yamuni Tabush Foundation, we believe that older people are a source of energy, knowledge, value, and experience. We must put an end to the ageism that always positions older people as fragile and vulnerable. We want to see more active older people reaching goals every day.
Andrea Terán, Director of Programs for the Older Adult at Fundación Yamuni Tabush
This initiative also carries broader economic and public health implications. As Costa Rica’s demographic trend leans toward an aging society, promoting active and healthy aging becomes essential to reducing strain on healthcare systems. Engaging seniors in community-wide sports events fosters physical vitality and social connection, two key pillars of long-term wellness.
Ultimately, this partnership is a step toward a more integrated Costa Rican society. By utilizing the Gran Maratón Costa Rica as a platform for social change, both organizations are demonstrating that sports can serve as a catalyst for health, inclusion, and the systematic dismantling of ageist biases.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Gran Maratón Costa Rica
About Gran Maratón Costa Rica:
Gran Maratón Costa Rica is one of the nation’s premier athletic events, dedicated to creating safe, inclusive, and democratized spaces for runners of all backgrounds and ages.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Fundación Yamuni Tabush
About Fundación Yamuni Tabush:
Fundación Yamuni Tabush is a Costa Rican organization focused on social development, particularly championing the rights, health, and active inclusion of the country’s aging and older adult populations.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Renowned for its high ethical standards and superior legal advocacy, Bufete de Costa Rica represents a benchmark of professional dedication. The firm expertly guides clients across numerous industries while championing forward-thinking solutions and active civic engagement. Through its ongoing efforts to democratize legal education, Bufete de Costa Rica actively nurtures a more enlightened and self-reliant public.
