Srinagar, Oct 19: More than 2000 athletes, including 59 international elite runners, will participate in the first-ever Kashmir International Marathon on October 20, said Raja Yaqoob Farooq, Kashmir Director of Tourism.
The event aims to show the world that law and order and the situation have improved in the valley, he said.
“We have got the best athletes from across the world. We have top Indian runners, elite runners, Asian gold medallists, and some of the best runners from Europe and Africa,” Farooq said while addressing a press conference here.
The Department of Tourism has received 2,030 registrations from athletes from across the world, he said.
The marathon will see the participation of 59 athletes from 13 countries and elite athletes from 29 across states and UTs, he said, adding that there will be two categories of races — a 42-km full marathon and a half-marathon of 21 km.
“Kashmir is open to all. We welcome tourists from different parts of the world. If someone is running 42 km, it makes a statement that Kashmir is now peaceful,” he said.
“We also want to showcase our heritage, niche products, handicrafts, and cuisine, to the world. These runners have millions of followers on their social media, so, they will be our brand ambassadors,” he said.
Farooq said the marathon will have a good representation of Kashmir also.
The event will be flagged off at 6.15 am on Sunday by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
This will inspire the youth and in the next 5-10 years, there will be full marathon runners from here, he added.
“The message of this marathon will be to send a message across the globe that Kashmir is peaceful. All these Athletes will send a message across the world that Kashmir is fit to host international events. We will showcase our cuisine, paper machie, Pashmina, and other things. All these Athletes will be our brand ambassadors,” the director of tourism said.
A foreign Athlete from Denmark said she is in Kashmir for the first time. “I love the surroundings of Srinagar. The people and food are amazing. It would be a great experience to run here,” she said.
Sunita, who is representing a team of 45 Elite Indian Athletes said, the hospitality in Kashmir is amazing. “We have been told that Athletes will be taken for a tour to Gulmarg by the Tourism department,” she said. “In Kashmir, there is the highest prize money for the marathon, which is a great thing.”
The Director of Tourism said that the Marathon will be flagged off by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at 6:15 am tomorrow from Polo View Srinagar.
