Sport means more than stopwatch numbers, podiums or intense training. In most cases, sport means transformation. Starting with the moment you choose to get up from the couch and become a better version of yourself. And this transformation – a personal one, but with an impact on the entire community – will be discussed by Dragoș Pătraru, the special guest of the conference "Beyond the Finish: How Sport Changes Lives and Communities", organized within the framework of UVT Liberty Marathon 2025.

The event is taking place Friday, September 5, from 19:00 PM, in Aula Magna of the West University of Timișoara, and access is free, in based on prior registration.

Dragos Patraru, a well-known journalist, presenter and TV personality, is also an active supporter of mass sports. His speeches are direct, authentic and motivational, and in this conference he will explore exactly what sport means beyond the finish line: not as a performance, but as a lifestyle, courage, discipline and reconnection – both with oneself and with others.

"Sport is not just about speed, medals, strength and records. Sport is about how you go from 'I don't have time' to 'I make time'. From 'I can't' to 'I can'. From the couch... to a better version of yourself.. Yes, sport changes your status - not only socially, but also personally. The world perceives and looks differently at the person who has the courage to start and, above all, to continue - with perseverance, consistency and discipline." – is transmitted in event message.

This conference is addressed to all those who already run, who train, who are part of the community - as a boost of motivation and confirmation, as well as to those who are still on the sidelines, but feel they could take the first step - to discover a sincere, human and necessary "why".

The event is part of the series of preparatory actions for UVT Liberty Marathon, a competition in its eighth edition, which will take place on September 27–28, 2025 and which promotes both movement and social involvement and belonging to an active, educated and healthy community. Runners can sign up for one of the cross-country, half-marathon, marathon or relay races, on routes that pass through the center of Timisoara.

Admission to the conference "Beyond the Finish: How Sport Changes Lives and Communities" is free, but places are limited, so the organizers recommend registering in advance, here: https://forms.gle/d3NRjuWwDdEGZHgq6.

UVT Rector, Prof. Dr. Marilen Gabriel Pirtea, talks about the involvement of very well-known personalities in supporting participation in the UVT Liberty Marathon. These personalities are sports and public behavior models, such as Dragoș Pătraru, but also Alina Dumitru, Olympic judo champion, UVT Liberty Marathon 2025 ambassador. The examples of conduct contribute to the consolidation of the marathon as a living expression of the community: "With each edition, UVT Liberty Marathon becomes more than a competition, it becomes a community in motion, guided by values ​​such as perseverance, determination and the desire for self-improvement. Alina Dumitru embodies this spirit through her sporting excellence and active involvement in promoting movement and a healthy lifestyle. She is an authentic role model for our entire community, the Liberty ambassador for the eighth edition. And Dragoș Pătraru comes to UVT to discuss the importance of sport in the life of the community. We look forward to seeing you at the conference on September 5 and, of course, at the eighth edition of UVT Liberty Marathon, on September 27 and 28, 2025."