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A RUN TO CHAMPION SPORT FOR ALL

Four years old this year, the Run has come of Olympic age. Runners take to the streets in Launched in 1987 at the initiative of the IOC President, a stagger- Mauritius. ing 136 out of a total of 166 NOCs organized the event in 1990. A resounding “YES” to the challenge of actively promoting sport for 4TH OLYMPIC all. And nothing draws the general public like those five rings. As DAY RUN more and more people become aware of the Games, through increased media coverage and the continually expanding activities of the IOC, the NOCs and the IFs, the more they want to grab a piece of the action. The double pyramid - sport for all the base for champions and champions the base for sport for all - is spinning round faster and faster.

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pants in Tirana. Many additional sports events to mark the occasion were staged elsewhere, including cycling and races and tournaments. ALBANIA

50,000 Runners Tirana and regions, 24th June Numerous marathons were organized throughout the country before the 24th June, to get the population into gear for the Olympic Day Run. The strategy seems to have paid dividends, with a nationwide turnout in the capital and regions on the big day coming to 50,000.

ALGERIA

321,500 Runners Finishers receive their certificates Bouira and throughout the country, 3rd in Albania (above). Winner’s May podium in Souira, Algeria (right). Full marks then to all who took part. The NOC has always managed to take the And not just to the runners, but to all those Run to all areas of Algeria, by organizing it who worked behind the scenes, particu- in three phases. Firstly, all the communes larly the NOC’s Mass Physical Culture Sec- organize the event. This year, 300,000 tion, which had to set up a special Olympic youngsters took part at this level in Febru- Day Commission to co-ordinate activities ary. More than 20,000 of these went on to throughout the country. compete at runs organized by the wilayas (departments). Finally, 1,500 athletes are Messrs Ali Vukatana and Leonidha chosen to take part in the national Run, Toska, NOC President and Secretary-Gen- which this year took place in Bouira. A eral respectively, presented the WFSGI clever way of ensuring everyone gets a t-shirts and IOC certificates to partici- chance to take part.

564 23rd by the official celebration of Olympic Day. This, which has been enshrined in the country’s constitution since 1988, was held at the Buenos Aires Gymnastics and Fenc- ANDORRA ing Club, which was celebrating its 110th anniversary. Two hundred people attended 210 Runners this, including many personalities in Andorra La Vella, 20th June national sports life. The evening included There were two courses in this year’s Run, an award ceremony during which two IOC one of 2.8 km for children and another trophies were presented : for Fair Play, to 11 km race for the adults. the archer. Pablo Basgall, and for Sports Medicine, to Dr Alberto René Salem. The Prizes in each of the five different age programme also included an aerobic and groups were given out by Mr Jaume Bartu- gymnastics display. meu, the Minister of Finance, Mr Antoni Cerqueda, Mayor of Andorra La Vella, and by NOC members, Mr lsidre Baro, the Pre- sident, Mr Lluis Viu, Vice-President, Mr Josep Ma Cosan, Secretary-General. Col. Antonio Rodriguez, new IOC member and NOC President, presents the certificates in Argentina.

ARUBA

108 Runners Ultslagen, 17th June “Very successful” is the evaluation of this year’s Run in Aruba, with turnout double that of last year’s edition, the national press taking a keen interest in the event, and almost all men and women - ninety to be exact - successfully completing the 5,000m course.

AUSTRALIA Primary school children getting Approx 5,000 Runners off to a good start in Andorra. Melbourne, 24th June Five thousand runners, walkers, wheelchair athletes and roller skaters took part in the Australian Olympic Day Run 1990 around Melbourne’s Albert Park Lake. ARGENTINA Cloudless skies and a cool breeze 1,500 Runners made the conditions perfect and with Buenos Aires, 18th June 1,500 children taking part in the schools The third run on 18th June, in which many category, it was by far the biggest field to entire families took part, was followed on have completed the annual Run, and a

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demonstration of the community’s strong from almost all sections of society” says support for the city’s bid for the 1996 Capt. Siddique Ahmed, NOC Secretary- . General. Those who took part in the 12km run included members of the delegation to First to complete the 10km course was the XIth in in Septem- 19-year-old Melbourne athlete Julian Payn- ber and other well-known sportsmen, as ter in 30’14”. He was presented with his well as representatives of the national trophy by one of ’s most famous women’s sport federation, the veteran sportsmen and the technical director of the sportsmen association, school and univers- bid committee, John Landy. The WFSGI ity students, members of the armed forces t-shirts were distributed to the first 500 fin- and the police and groups of cycling and ishers, with another 250 t-shirts donated by roller skating enthusiasts. Coca-Cola to the first 250 children to enter for the race. The event was covered by Vision television.

Smiles from young Melbourne Runners. BARBADOS

Approx. 2,000 Runners Approx. 100 Runners , 27th July Bridgetown, 29th July ‘Sport for Joy’ read one of the scores of Around one hundred runners, joggers and banners held aloft amongst the sea of walkers aged from 14 to 62 took part in this people making their way though the year’s Olympic Day Run in Bridgetown, the streets of Dhaka clad in their WFSGI capital of Barbados. ‘Olympic Day Runner’ t-shirts. “The most important achievement of the run was that we were able to motivate people

BELGIUM

1,350 Runners Coxyde, 26th July The NOC and the national football union, in collaboration with the Belgian army, organized this year’s Olympic Day Run as the grand finale of the third annual ‘Army and Nation’ festival of sport.

As well as the 1,200 adults who tried the 6.4 km course. for which the start was given by NOC President Dr Jacques Rogge, another 150 children tried out their pro- wess over 800m, winning the WFSGI Olympic Day Runner t-shirts for their Getting the sports message across efforts, as well, of course, as much loud and clear in Bangladesh. applause from the hundreds of spectators.

566 from national television and press and local radio. Prizes were given to the first to finish in the different categories - men’s and women’s overall, veteran, junior and child- ren’s, as well as the WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certificates to other participants.

BELIZE

Belize City, 1st July Participants of all ages mingled together in this year’s race, in which primary schools were particularly encouraged to take part. There was also a strong turnout from the police and armed forces and, indeed, from the general public, helped by a good deal of co-operation with advance publicity

Schoolchildren queuing up to enter in Belgium (top left). Mr Lucien Gokun, NOC Secretary-General, handing out the WFSGI t-shirts to children in Calavi, Benin.

BENIN

Over 7,000 Runners Cotonou and Porto Novo, Sos in Calavi, 30th June The two biggest cities in Benin, Cotonou and Porto Novo, staged the Run this year, with the addition of a special children’s edi- tion in Sos in Calavi, where the WFSGI t-shirts were particularly popular. Good col- laboration between the local authorities, the NOC and the national athletic federa- tion ensured the success of the event, which was widely covered by national tele- vision and radio.

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Olympic Day line-up at ’s Changlimithang Sports Complex in .

BERMUDA BHUTAN

150 Runners 740 Runners 23rd June Thimpu, 23rd June “Our first such effort for many years, we Bhutan has organized an Olympic Day Run found the Olympic Day Run to be very since it started in 1987 and it attracts popular and expect next year to have a roughly the same number of women - 310 much larger participation”, writes the this year - as men. Under the banner ‘Run Secretary-General of the Bermuda Olympic for Health, Participate for Fun’, this year’s Association, which provided the colour edition was organized by the NOC in colla- photo chosen for this year’s Olympic Day boration with the Youth Welfare Associa- Run Special cover. tion, as it was in 1989, so there were plenty of youngsters taking part. Dasho Sangay Organized in conjunction with the Ber- Sorji, a member of Benin’s former royal muda Track and Field Assocation, the event family, made the presentations of medals was divided into three categories, for both and IOC certificates. primary and secondary school children and adults (over sixteens). Spectators had plenty to keep them- selves occupied with in between runners, cheering on a lively football match between girls from Yangchenphug and Motithang High Schools.

568 BOLIVIA BRAZIL

1,230 Runners 47 Runners La Paz, 1st September Rio de Janeiro, 24th June Traffic from the capital’s international air- The Brazilian Olympic Day Run suffered on port to the city centre was held up for two account of the national football team’s hours whilst the cavalcade of Olympic Day world cup match that day against Argen- Runners made its way along the motorway to the finish at the NOC’s headquarters. Many leading sports administrators took part in the event, which was organized by Mr Jorge Espana Ortiz, NOC Secretary- General.

Trophies were presented to the first three to finish in each category, with the WFSGI t-shirts given to 150 runners. Every- one received the IOC certificates of partici- pation.

Motorway traffic gives way to Runners in La Paz, Bolivia (bottom left). Finish in Brazil for tina. Many people had signed their names Olympic Day Runner stalwarts in up, but just could not tear themselves away Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. from watching that vital game. Quite fitting then that there were commemorative med- als for all those who did turn out to do the 10 km course, 10 women and 37 men, in addition to the IOC certificates.

Support was kindly given by members of the military police, the municipal secre- tariat of sport and leisure, the parks foun- dation and the fire, police and ambulance services, who need special thanks as they probably all missed the match too...

The overall winner was Milton Mattos dos Santos, in 31’39”98.

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Partial view of the long line of runners in Bafoussam, Cameroon (left). Young cyclists get in on the action in Torotonto. CAYMAN ISLANDS

Approx 150 Runners Georgetown, 23rd June The Olympic Day Run has now secured a permanent niche on the local sports calen- dar. This year, a 3km walk was added in order to encourage all the family to parti- cipate. And the NOC gave a really Olympic feel to the occasion by decking out the route with all the national flags of the NOCs. The overall turnout, a little lower than last year owing to a clash with the start of the children’s summer season and a multisport event for the disabled, all the different schools taking part repre- was judged very satisfactory : “Entrants senting different countries and many of the included not only the regulars on the local total of 400 pupils running with the appro- running scene, but also a good cross-sec- priate flags. It was organized by the city’s tion of the island’s other sports associations bid committee for the 1996 Games, and and some distinctly recreational joggers !“. with the help of Mr James Worrall,, an hon- orary IOC member and Mrs Anne Letheren, new IOC member in Canada. In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the “non-competitive family event”, held just before the Western in the city, drew 500 parti- cipants of all ages, with the emphasis on participation and fun. CAMEROON

Over 1,000 Runners Bafoussam, 23rd June ‘Bafoussam, the capital town of the pro- vince of Western Cameroon, situtated 300 km from Yaounde, had a very special atmosphere on 23rd June 1990. It was 6 am and the huge Liberty Square was already swarming with people : youngsters, adults and veterans getting ready for the CHILI start of the Olympic Day Run. One could count over a thousand people...’ (NOC 598 Runners Secretary-General, Mr Dieudonne Timba). Santiago, 24th June “Without football, there would have been over a thousand runners” says the official report of the Run. This year’s edition, the second in Chile, coincided with the World Cup match of Argentina versus Brazil, so the organizers were particularly pleased CANADA with the turnout of over five hundred peo- ple at NOC headquarters for the start of the 900 Runners 11 km course, given by the committee’s pre- Toronto and Winnipeg, 23rd June sident, Mr Sergio Santander. Pleased too Two runs were held this year. In Toronto with the television coverage of the event in the run was emphatically multicultural, with a special programme called ‘Sport Colour’.

570 The run was open to everyone over ceremony took place during which Mr He twelve and attracted some of the country’s Zhenliang, IOC Vice-President, spoke of top distance runners. Omar Aguillar fin- the growing prestige of the event amongst ished first overall in a time of 28’55” and youngsters. This year, of course, a few Elsa Pizarra was the first woman across the months before the opening of the Xl Asian line in 34’49”. Three hundred WFSGI Games in the Chinese capital, it had spe- t-shirts and the IOC certificates were distri- cial significance, with people of all ages buted to participants. joining in to show their enthusiasm for the Olympic Movement.

CYPRUS

300 Runners , 17th June Olympic Day podium, Chile (far Another increase from last year’s turnout, left). Mr losif Hadjiosif, NOC from 178 to 300 participants of all ages, for Secretary-General, presents a the Olympic Day Run in . The trophy to the winning disabled WFSGI t-shirts, together with a trophy to Runner (above). the winner in the disabled runners cate- gory, were presented by NOC Secretary- General Mr losif Hadjiosif.

Sea of Runners at Beijing’s National Olympic Sports Centre.

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF

1,000 Runners Beijing, 13th May Over a thousand middle school children from Beijing took part in the 1990 Run, organized in the capital’s National Olympic Sports Centre. Prior to the start, a

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Mr Jorge Nery Carvajal, NOC President, flags off the Runners in Costa Rica. KOREA

4,800 Runners , 17th June A very Olympic and already traditional start and good turnout for this year’s Run in Korea, at Seoul’s main stadium. Men and women of all ages did the race, which fol- lowed a course of 5.2km to the Peace Gate in Olympic Park. Organized by the NOC in collaboration with the Korean Amateur Ath- letic Assocation, the event was attended by many leading sports figures, including Mr Yong Kyun Kim, Deputy Sports Minister, and Mr Chong Yul Kim, NOC President. The first 500 runners received the WFSGI t-shirts and certificates and NOC commem- orative medals were given to the rest. Full coverage of the event was given by the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).

Koreans show they are enthusiastic about the Olympic Movement as ever at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium.

COSTA RICA

1,200 Runners San José, 25th June The finish of this year’s Olympic Day Run in Costa Rica, the third edition held here, was the new NOC headquarters in San lsidro de Coronado, where an Olympic Village is being built to train the country’s top ath- letes for international events.

This year’s turnout was up on last year’s, with 1,200 runners of all ages. Tro- phies were handed out to the winners of the 11.2 km course - amongst them Pedro Jimenez, with a time of 36’2” and Marta Salas with 52’50” - as well as WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certificates to the rest of the entrants.

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Havana, 1st July The whole city of Havana showed great enthusiam for the Olympic Day Run held on 1st July. The members of the PASO executive board, and the ANOC President, Mr Mario Vazquez Rana, watched the event.

The starting line in the Cuban capital.

Gen. Holst-Sorensen, IOC member in Denmark, with the Olympic Day Runners in Koege.

DENMARK by the Danish Track and Field Federation in the town of Koege, south of Copenhagen. Approx 100 Runners The start was given by Gen. Niels Holst- Koege, 16th June Sorensen, former European 400m cham- Children and adults, top athletes and peo- pion and IOC member in Denmark, who ple running for the exercize took part in also handed out the WFSGI t-shirts and this year’s Olympic Day Run in Denmark. IOC certificates at the finish with NOC Pre- Like previous editions, this was organized sident Mr lngo Nielsen.

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With the Games in Barcelona approaching fast, the NOC is now busy setting up the training programme for its Olympic delegation, in collaboration with DJIBOUTI

Ahmed Saleh, Olympic medallist, 400 Runners left, encouraging the Runners in Djibouti, 22nd June Djibouti with Mr Mohamed Elabe, Ahmed Saleh, bronze medallist in the NOC President. Games in Seoul, again supported the Olympic Day Run in Djibouti by handing out the WFSGI t-shirts and certificates to participants. This year, the run was sepa- rated into a 6km course for the 15 to 20 and 20 to 30 year olds and a 2.5km one for the twelve to fifteens, with special praise from the press going to the two female entrants, who, like the rest, had to cope with the very hot June climate.

This third Run in the country provided a good occasion for Mr Djama Elabe, NOC President, to take stock of the committee’s achievements during its six years of exist- ence, notably Djibouti’s increased repre- sentation at both continental and interna- tional events, and its participation in the Olympic Solidarity programme, through which the NOC has already organized ten the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Cultural courses in both sport and administration. Affairs. Two athletes, Ahmed Saleh and Youssof Doukai are amongst the first ath- Olympic procession in the letes to win an IOC Olympic Scholarship. Dominican Republic. The future is looking good...

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The NOC of the Dominican Republic has a television series called “The Olympics in Action”. And there was certainly plenty of that during Olympic Week from 21st to 29th August. For as well as the traditional activities - an Olympic dinner to honour the best athletes of the year and, of course, the second Run - the NOC had two open- ings to celebrate, of the Olympic Museum and its new photographic department.

574 Both signs of the growth in the range of the activities to celebrate Olympism. The run committee’s activities. covered a distance of 18 km through the streets of the city, starting at the Athletic And, with the laying of the first stone Club and finishing at the NOC building. of the future Olympic Academy, there is The winner of the race in the men’s senior more to look forward to. The future build- category was Rodrigo Baquero, in a time of ing will be put to good use: during the 55’36”. Teresa Paucar was the first woman week, the country’s first congress on Physi- to finish, in 1 hour 5’4”. Luis Alvarado came cal Education, Sport and Recreation drew top amongst the wheelchair athletes, finish- 300 people, including many government ing first of the entire field in 54’23”. ministers and sports administrators.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

500 Runners Dubai, 15th June Blistering heat and high did not deter the Olympic Day Runners in Dubai. People of all ages - the youngest 13, the oldest 60, came from throughout the to take part. Exten- sive media coverage was given to the event, won by Saleh Ahmed of the Central Military Command, who finished the 5km course in 15’47”. Hanan Ahmed of won the women’s race in a time of 30’53”.

Ecuador’s Olympic Day Runners.

The WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certificates ECUADOR were distributed after the race by members of the NOC, including the President, Mr 1,000 Runners Sabino Hernandez, and Secretary-General, Guayaquil, 27th October Mr Arturo Gamboa, as well as of the This year’s Run, the fourth to be held in National Olympic Academy, which organ- Ecuador, came at the end of a full week of ized the event.

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of 30’56” set by the winner Davendra Singh, who took the 10 km photo finish from Vikash Singh, both runners clocking 30’56”. Top squash player Andrea Ernst FIJI won her second consecutive win in the Run, with a time of 39’32”. Over 700 Runners Suva, 23rd June The support of forty individual volun- “The theme was no different to that of last teers and local services, and publicity on year, to spread Olympism as wide as possi- the weekly NOC sports radio programme ble in Fiji. The target was to involve the sponsored by Air New Zealand were major widest possible cross-section of the com- factors in the Run’s success. The 700-plus munity in terms of both age and profes- turnout was well up on last year and the sion”. NOC is now considering staging the event in both Suva and Lautoka as from next year, an important step towards making the Run a truly national event.

FINLAND

8,000 - 8,500 Runners 5 days, end June-beginning July The 12th Suomi Juoksee Viesti, the ‘Finland Smiles from the Women’s Runs Relay’ was chosen as this year’s Olym- “Golden Oldies” team in Fiji. Seven weeks of preparation and plan- pic Day Run. One of the biggest sports for ning ensured that the NOC achieved its all events in the country, it follows a 1,308 goal. With the help of donations from local km route from Utsoki, in Lapland, along businesses, the event also raised funds for the Highway E4, to finish in the capital, Fiji’s delegation at the South Helsinki. The aim is to promote recrea- in Papua New Guinea in 1991 into the bar- tional sport along the way. This year, no gain. less than 202 teams took part, with a total 24,300 individual stages completed. Sixty six teams entered, half from schools, which was a significant increase Divided into 100 stages that vary on previous years, the others representing between 6 to 20 kms in length, the relay is business, government, the armed forces emphatically not a competition : all partici- and the disabled. Seven hundred and thir- pants run together, usually in teams and at teen of the runners finished the course, set speed of one kilometre roughly every with an Olympic Day Run record time five to five and a half minutes.

576 Gabon’s Director-General of Civil and Military Sport hands over the Run trophy. GAMBIA

80 Runners Banjul, 23rd June Two courses of 5 km and 10 km were organized for the Olympic Day Run, which attracted participants from sports associ- ations, the armed forces and colleges as well as from the general public. The finish was at Independence Stadium, decked out for the occasion in Olympic banners and posters, where finishers were given a warm welcome by a crowd of eager spectators. NOC President Mr Abou Dandeh Njie and Secretary-General Mr Cherno Touray pre- sented the WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certifi- cates.

Group shot from Gambia.

GABON

280 Runners Libreville, 15th July The third Olympic Day Run organized by the NOC was another success both in terms of turnout and general organization. All age groups and levels took part, as well as disabled athletes. Cups and the IOC cer- tificates were presented by the NOC Presi- dent Mr Fidèle Waura and the National Director of Civil and Military Sports.

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GHANA

Over 1,000 runners Accra, 16th June Alhaji Alhassan, the national marathon star, was first overall in the third Olympic Day Run in Ghana. But more than a thousand people from all walks of life and of all ages and nationalities took part, with a special prize going to the youngest participant, eight-year old Daniel Yeboah of the Sta- dium Keep Fit club, who also received his WFSGI t-shirt along with the other athletes. Girls show off their WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certificates after the race in Ghana (below). Mr Jean Papadogiannakis presents the certificate to a disabled athlete.

GREECE

Athens, 29th April It was the Spiros Louis Stadium in Athens, named after the Greek who was the first Olympic marathon champion, that was the starting point for this year’s Olympic Day Run. And hundreds of people turned up to follow in the great champion’s footsteps, at least part of the distance anyway, taking part in a 10 km course through the streets of the capital to the finish at the Kallimar- maron Panathinaikon Stadium, where the first Games were staged in 1896.

The WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certificates were distributed by Mr Jean Papadogianna- The Deputy Secretary of Youth and kis, NOC Vice-President. At the head of Sports, Mr Sam Nelson, addressed the their groups were : Costas Kouvaras de Pat- crowd, using the success of the occasion to ras (men’s overall, time 27’31”), make a strong appeal for employers to Tsafou de Nea Smirni (women’s overall, encourage their workers to join keep fit 32’19”) and Manthos Maras (disabled ath- clubs by paying their membership fees. letes).

578 A spaghetti dinner followed, provided by the national volleyball association, which used the proceeds to fund their par- ticipation in the Micronesian Games in July.

Over 300 Runners Guam, 23rd June This year’s ‘Spirit Run’ was held in the early evening so that runners could catch the beautiful sunset. In the event, it rained, but it didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s enthu- siasm. The switch to a shorter run of 5km GUATEMALA this year increased the turnout three fold, with many more youngsters and older ath- 1,124 Runners letes joining in. Plenty of fun was had by Guatemala, 24th June all, with a fancy dress competition and a This year’s Run drew well over double the “centipede relay”, in which teams of four number of participants in Guatemala’s first or more had to run the whole race tied edition back in 1988, which had a turnout together. of 489.

Guatemala : Maria del Pilar Menéndez de Cox receiving first prize in the senior women’s category from NOC member Mr Tulio Armando Contreras.

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Sporting handshake in Haiti.

GUYANA

306 Runners Georgetown, 17th June Last year, the Run was still restricted to under-23s to make numbers more manage- able. This year, with two editions safely behind it, the NOC extended invitations to

Guyana’s Runners keep in step all the way. HAITI

32 Runners almost all Georgetown’s national sports Port-au-Prince, 26th August federations, as well as to the Guyana Coali- “Good sporting atmosphere, runner satis- tion of Citizens with Disabilities, the Blind faction”. The conclusion says it all for this Institute, the teacher’s training college, uni- year’s Olympic Day Run in Haiti, which versity, police and the army. And the ages twenty eight of the thirty two runners of entrants ranged from eight to sixty. In managed to finish. Mr Jean-Edouard Baker, character with the fun element of the NOC President, gave the starting signal and event, participants kept in step with each presented trophies to the winners. Local other by stopping for breaks to do calis- services such as the Red Cross and the thenics and other exercises along the 10 Army lent their full support to the event, as km route. All finished the course. did local soft drink and ice-making firms.

580 sONG KONG

1,180 Runners Shatin, 13th May “It was noticed that all the runners were carrying a happy face”. The choice of the sports complex in the modern town of Shatin in the New Territories proved to be a good one, with organizers amazed by the highest number of entries ever for a run- ning event in . There were no age criteria set and both the able and dis- abled of all levels were encouraged to take part. The WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certifi- cates were handed out, as well as trophies to the first runners to finish.

Encouraging women to run in Iceland.

ICELAND 3,400 Runners Approx. 1,000 Runners Promoting a healthy lifestyle for women in , 22nd June sport was the theme of this year’s Run, The Olympic Day Run, staged in the capi- organized in conjunction with the National tal, Baghdad, over a distance of 10 km, Confederation of Sports’ ten yearly sports drew roughly a thousand athletes, who festival. Women turned out in far greater were presented with their IOC certificates numbers than expected and, as Icelanders after the race by the President of the Iraqi are very into relative comparisons when Amateur Athletics Federation. evaluating sports or cultural success, they point out that 3,400 runners out of the total population is equivalent to 3 million run- ners in the USA or the USSR.

Women in five communities along the coast : Akureyri, Isafjordur, Egilsstadir, Grundarfjordur and Laugar, took part in the event in their towns or villages. The national broadcasting service made it possi- ble for all the runs to begin together by carrying the starting signal from the main race in Reykajavik, which attracted 2,300 women. Baghdad Runners in Irak.

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Congratulations for the winner in Tel Aviv.

ITALY

Approx. 5,000 Runners 28th June, Rome Youngsters, adults, men, women, athletes and joggers all gathered together under the symbol of the five rings for an evening Olympic Day Run in the magnificent natu- ral setting of the Villa Borghese, the largest public park in Rome. Participants, who could take their choice of either a 5 km or a 10 km course, were accompanied as they ran along by the strains of a band.

Encouraged by the popularity of this year’s route - the three previous editions have been along city streets -, the NOC hopes to use the park again next year, and is already planning to extend the Run into a multisport event, with the addition of sports such as cycling and skating.

A special commemorative postcard and cancellation was issued to mark the event.

1,000 Runners Tel Aviv, 20th June This year’s Run was organized in Tel Aviv’s Athletics Stadium, where men, women and children tested themselves over distances that ranged from 2,000 to 10,000 m. Splendid evening setting for the Italian Run in Rome.

JAPAN

1,850 Runners , 23rd June, Nagano 24th June, Sapporo, 8th July A large-scale Olympic Day Run was held in three major cities, two already Olympic, the other hoping to become so in 1998, the first major event organized by the newly-remodelled Japanese Olympic Com- mittee.

In Tokyo, some five hundred members of the NOC, the Diet and officials of the

582 education ministry joined Olympians such as marathon runner Toshihiko Seko, wrest- ler Kideaki Tomiyama, volleyball star Kumi Nakada and of course, the NOC President, former swimmer Hironoshin Furuhashi, as well as members of the general public for “a half-way-round the Imperial Palace jog”, with everyone running at what the report calls “exhilarating speed”. A reception fol- lowed at the NOC headquarters.

The Nagano Run was staged at the Undo-Koen municipal athletic stadium and the Sapporo edition at the Makomanai Speedskating Rink.

Mass start for the Run in Nairobi, Kenya.

tion of the population it appealed to : men, 792; women, 398, boys, 569; girls, 257; the disabled, 181. Amongst the entrants, the NOC gives a special mention to the youn- gest girl, 6 year Rita Andati, and eight year old Yvonne Auma, the youngest handi- capped participant. Runners could choose to do one lap of Nairobi’s Uhuru Park, or two. NOC President Mr Charles Mukora, who has since been elected IOC member in Kenya at the September Session in Tokyo, flagged off the runners and pre- sented prizes donated by the public and by local firms. First over the 10 km course was Wilson Omwoyo, in a time of 31’19”04.

KENYA

2,197 Runners 9,000 Runners Nairobi, 23rd June Sulaibikhat District, 2nd March The complete breakdown of runners in this Kuwait’s second Olympic Day Run, organ- year’s run report shows what a wide selec- ized by the NOC under its late President,

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Laos, organized by the national athletics federation in collaboration with the NOC through the main avenues of the capital. Four hundred and fifty youngsters, includ- ing a hundred girls, did the 10 km course, and another 950 children, 600 boys and 350 girls, joined the veterans over a shorter 5 km route. The verdict? “To be done again”.

Olympic Day Runners in Kuwait. The late Sheikh Fahad is in the Sheikh Fahad Al Ahmad Al Sabah, IOC advance car. member in Kuwait, in collaboration with Start of the Run in (right). the Ministry of Information, was held in the Sulaibikhat District, near the Arab Gulf Coast. There were two routes for the run- ners, men only, one of 10 km for 17 to 40 year olds and another of 5 km for the jun- iors (ten to sixteens) and seniors (41 and over). Six thousand athletes did the longer course, many of them representing teams from schools and universities, sports clubs, the armed forces, the police, government ministries and businesses.

Sheikh Fahad distributed the t-shirts, at a ceremony attended by many members of teams in Kuwait for the 10th Arab Gulf Football Cup.

LEBANON LAOS The Lebanese NOC did not just organize 1,500 Runners the Run, but, with inspiring will, included Vientiane, 27th June programmes for weightlifting and athletics “An atmosphere of sports festivity” was the events for the handicapped in the celebra- hallmark of this year’s Olympic Day Run in tion of Olympic Day.

584 has close contacts. The club’s high jumpers gave another impressive performance, which traced the evolution of their disci- pline over the years. LUXEMBURC Another special attraction was a series Approx. 350 Runners of workshops encouraging people, children Diekirch, 23rd June and adults together, to get involved in the The town of Diekirch was chosen for the basic actions of sport, running, jumping, second time as the venue for the Run to throwing. The aim, in the context of the fair celebrate Olympic Day on 23rd June, a play campaign the NOC has been conduct- date which coincides with Luxemburg’s ing throughout 1990, was to encourage co- national holiday. A double celebration, operation with other players and participa- then, which began with a torch relay car- tion in the basic gestures of fair play and ried out by local primary school children. team work. Amongst the activities were skateboarding, slaloming round barrels, More than 350 athletes, a good fifty long jumping with the aid of a trampoline more than last year, took part in the Run, and handball shots through the Olympic which was set over a picturesque 10 km rings. The occasion was a good one for route through the narrow streets of the presenting the NOC’s annual trophy for fair town. First to finish, in a time of 32’47”, play. The winner was cyclist Marcel Ernzer, was last year’s winner, local runner Jean- who throughout his long career has always Claude Petit. Christine Metz, who clocked been “a real gentleman of the sport”. Mr 37’35”, was the first woman across the line. Ernzer’s comment to the press after being All participants were given the WFSGI given the prize by NOC President Mr Nor- Olympic Day Runner t-shirts and IOC certi- bert Haupert is revealing : ‘Apparently, ficates. those responsible think I’ve always been a role model for fair play. Personally, I was very surprised, because I think I’ve only During the day there were demon- done my job...” In other words, then, strations by pole vaulters from the Racing sporting values are inseparable from sports A child carries the torch in Club de , with which the town performance. Luxemburg.

Line-up of Olympic Day Runners in . Mr Toni Khouri, NOC President, is standing fourth from the left.

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MALAWI MAURITIUS

700 Runners 1,500 Runners Zomba, 23rd June 24th June Mr Justice Richard Banda, NOC President, An innovation for this year’s third Olympic congratulated all those who made this Day Run was that it was held simultane- year’s 12 km Olympic Fun Run in Zomba ously in the centre, south, east and west of such a success, adding that next year’s edi- the country. The only complaint comes tion will probably be held in Lilongwe, to from a journalist covering the 5 km event in give the people of the Central Region the Quatre-Bornes. By the time he had chance to take part. One of the runners, covered the start, jumped into his car and college lecturer Herbert Ley, agreed : “It made his way through the crowds to the would be nice if this competition was held finish in Rose Hill, Jose Laurent had already several times, because many people would crossed the finish in a time of 11’45”. The like to run”. As elsewhere, the Run conti- first woman finisher, Maryse Pyndiah-Justin, nues to snowball in popularity... arrived just over three minutes later. Also taking part was NOC President Mr Chinta- mun Rambocus. The total number of entries was 400 at each of the races in Quatre Bornes, Flacq and Mahegbourg and 300 in Triolet, where trophies were pre- sented by Mr Ram Ruhee, IOC member in Mauritius.

Local sponsors generously provided t-shirts and water, in addition to the 500 t-shirts sent by the WFSGI.

The Maltese Olympic Day Run MALTA

372 Runners 6th July The Maltese Olympic Committee post- poned the Run a little to avoid “Football World Cup Fever” this year and altered the route through Malta to bring the message of the Olympic Movement to new people. An Olympic car decked out in the five rings and playing music with sporting themes helped alert any islanders who had missed MAURITANIA the poster campaign to the fact that some- thing special was happening - and that a 502 Runners troop of eager Olympic Day Runners was 22nd June not far behind. Record participation this year for the third Olympic Day Run in Mauritania, which has As is now customary, the NOC Presi- now got, the NOC assures us, a firm niche dent, Mr Gino Camilleri and the Parliamen- on the national sports calendar. Plenty of tary Secretary for Sport, the Hon. Mr representatives this year from schools, uni- Michael Frendo, gave addresses before the versities, and clubs, as well as the police race and the whole event was well covered and army. The start was given by Mr Mous- by television. tapha Salech Kamara, NOC President.

586 Organized jointly by the NOC and the The Mauritania Run in progress. national athletics federation, the Run was a notable success, thanks to the support of many volunteers. Ten cups were given to the winners of the various categories, and 200 runners received the NOC’s commem- orative medal. All went home with the WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certificates. But the gesture that summed up the spirit of the event best was that of the two Australian competitors Menan and Greg, who crossed the line hand in hand in a spirit of friend- ship.

Although runners brought the traffic to a standstill in the capital for three quarters of an hour along the route to Nouakchott’s Olympic Stadium, the hooting was just mainly good-humoured encouragement!

The WFSGI t-shirts were distributed to participants at the end of the race.

Prince Albert amongst the field of Runners in Monaco. MONACO

400 Runners Monaco, 17th June More than four hundred people contri- buted to the success of the Olympic Day by taking part in the Run, which followed a 10 km course around the port. Amongst them was H.S.H. Prince Albert of Monaco, member of the IOC and Vice-Chairman of Approx. 1,000 Runners its Athletes’ Commission. All ages and Yangon, 23rd June levels mingled together, juniors, Olympic Demonstrations of karate, taekwondo and hopefuls, seniors and veterans, there for the popular national martial art called “tha- the pleasure of taking part. The first group ing” at Aungsan Memorial Stadium helped to finish did so in just over little over half turn the Olympic Day Run into a really fes- an hour. tive occasion in the capital. Prior to the

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start, members of the NOC board, led by first competitor to cross the fun run finish in the president Lt-Gen. Aung Ye Kyaw, set a Lagos. The primary school pupil, a keen good example by completing a 5km walk, taekwondist who won the one kilometre accompanied by the presidents and mem- race in grand style, was completely over- bers of affiliated sports federations and come with excitement as he was presented government officials. with the IOC certificate for his efforts.

The first fifteen to finish out of the About 1,000 runners defied early thousand participants in the 10 km road morning drizzle to take part in the 10 km Run received prizes, with all those who race, which was flagged off by Major Gen- had completed the course being given the eral Henry Adefope, IOC member in coveted WFSGI t-shirts. The Run was also Nigeria. Also there to present the IOC cer- Sir Adetokundbo Ademola, held in other towns thoughout Myanmar. tificates were Sir Adetokundbo Ademola, honorary IOC member, honorary IOC member and presidential congratulates a Runner in adviser on sports, and Mr Alhaji Adejumo, Nigeria, with General Henry NOC President. Adefope, IOC member. The Run was also held in Enugu and Abeokuta, the first time the event has been extended beyond the capital.

NORWAY

3,400 Runners Lillehammer, 17th June There has been a fifty per cent increase in participation in the Run every year in Lille- hammer since the event started there in 1987. This year, with the help of what the Olympic City for 1994 calls “aggressive marketing”, and a bright day with almost ideal running conditions, the total number of runners came to 3,400. As in previous years, the emphasis was on attracting not only top class racers but people who take the course just that little bit less seriously.

NIGERIA

Approx. 2,000 Runners Lagos, Abeokuta and Enugu, 24th June Five year old Sherrif, son of the NOC Scenes from the Norwegian Run Secretary-General Mr Saheed Lawal, stole (right and top of opposite page). the show at the Olympic Day Run as the

588 NETHERLANDS

Slagharen, 16th June The Run was organized for the third time at the Sports and Recreation Centre of the the village of Slagharen, in the north of the country. Taking part were schoolchildren, adults and judokas attending a two day clinic. The start of the race was given by

Celebrations for Olympic Day opened in traditional style, with the lighting of a flame by the mascots Kristin and Haakon and the release of balloons in the five colours. After people had warmed up dancing to the new release ‘Olympic Day Run’ by the local pop group Love Letters, Mr Jan Staubo, IOC member in Norway, gave the starting signal.

For those who thought 10 km was too much “Olympia Joggen”, the 5 km course, Mr Anton Geesink fires the for which no times were recorded, proved starting pistol in The Netherlands. ideal. The longer event drew some of Nor- way’s best runners, with Edward Dahl fin- ishing first overall, and Grethe Kirkeberg Mr Anton Geesink, IOC member in The setting a new women’s record in the event Netherlands. There were three courses : of 33’41”. World cross country skiing 3,500m for girls up to 15, 4,100m for girls champion 37-year old Oddvar Bra up to 16 and boys up to 15 and 6,200m for impressed everyone with his fifth place fin- the over sixteens. All participants received ish, as did the wheelchair athletes, and the the IOC certificate. group of 120 men and women soliders, who ran all together. Not forgetting to men- The organizers of this year’s event tion members of the NOC committee, led were the NOC’s Olympic Movement Com- by the President, Mr Arne Myhrvold, who mission and the Foundation of School and also arrived at the finish in good shape. Sport.

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Mrs Irene Szewinska congratulates the three winning girls in Poland. PERU

1,265 Runners Lima, 23rd, 24th June The third Olympic Day Run in Lima was held in two stages. The first, on the Satur- day, was a 2km course for youngsters aged mainly from 11 to 14, and it proved very popular, attracting 947 participants. The second run on Sunday was a 12 km adults event, which started in the capital’s Olym- pic Park. This was won again by Ivan Acosta for the third year, in a time of 37’53”. event was divided into different distances: two courses of 3 and 10 km and a little one of 100m for the under tens. Over a third of those who took part were girls and women. The Run was started by Mr Euge- niusz Mioduszewski, President of the Lomza region’s Society for the Populariza- tion of Physical Culture. WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certificates were presented by Mrs Irene Szewinska, NOC Vice-President, and Mr Zgymunt Szulc, NOC Secretary-General POLAND and Vice-Director of the Ministry of Sport. 1,500 Runners Grajewo, 17th June This year’s Run was held in the town of Just after the start of the Run Grajewo in the north east of Poland. The in Peru.

PHILIPPINES

50,000 Runners , 15th July “This year’s run was bigger and more suc- cessful than last year’s“ writes the NOC. This seems like an understatement: last year a mere ten thousand people, this year, a five-fold increase in turnout, with athletes from colleges and universities in Manila, national sports associations, the army, com- mercial firms, youth clubs, government departments, the NOC...

590 PORTUGAL

250 Runners Aveiro, 24th June This year’s Run was held in the town of Aveiro. The course went through the streets in the centre and finished at the university. In addition to the IOC certificate, which all participants received, the first ten teams were presented with trophies, and the first thirty individual athletes with commemora- tive medals.

The event was organized by the local athletics association in collaboration with the Portuguese Athletics Federation and the NOC. France, the Netherlands, Poland and the Runners surge forward in the Soviet Union. There were three distances GDR’s Run. on offer to the athletes, 4, 10 or 20 km, all along the hilly terrain of the Steigerwald and demanding a lot of stamina. The age of the entrants aged from 6-year old Aniko Helth to 71 year old Erich Banisch.

The WFSGI t-shirts and IOC certificates were presented by Messrs Joachim Weis- kopf and Wolfgang Gitter, NOC President and Secretary-General respectively, at a special ceremony. The success of this sport for all event is due, they say, to the combi- nation of the desire of the individual to do his best, and the sense of solidarity with everyone else. Trophies from the Portuguese Run.

GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

Approx. 450 Runners Erfurt, 24th June EL SALVADOR The 1990 edition of the Run was the last in the GDR. The flavour this year was rather Approx. 1,000 Runners international, as the event was held in con- San Salvador, 24th June junction with the 9th Hermann Jahn Mem- ‘World Olympic Day’ was the crowning orial Run, which drew participants not only point of a week of sport to celebrate the from both German states but also from Olympic Movement in El Salvador. NOC

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member federations all wanted to get in on the act, with special events organized in boxing, gymnastics, equestrian sports, weightlifting, bowls, karate, taekwondo, and more, even more...

The Day started early with a 10 km run along the coastal road, which in most parts winds itself along palm-lined shores, through some villages and hamlets. Over A fast pace in El Salvador. three hundred young people from different A full programme of events for villages on the island participated in this Olympic Day in Western Samoa inaugural event. (top of this page and page opposite). At 9.00 am, an athletic programme between ten village clubs was conducted, including every event from the 100 m through to the 1,500 m for both men and women. All the field events, with the WESTERN SAMOA exception of the hammer and pole vault, were also contested. This, like the 10 km 300 Runners Run, was the first inter-club track and field Tuasivi, Savaii, 23rd June competition on the island. There was tre- ‘The Olympic Day Run, which has been mendous interest all round and a good day organized in Western Samoa for the past was had by all, competitors and spectators three years in the of Apia was alike. recently held on the outer island of Savaii in the village of Tuasivi. Being a first for the Interestingly, almost all the competitors island and for the people of this area, the ran bare-foot during the track meet and Olympic Day programme, opened by NOC only those few who have had access to the President Seuili Paul Wallwork, IOC mem- athletic training programmes in Apia made ber in the country, was not only an big the most of their advantage, performing event but surely a success. with credit. With increasing skills and grea-

592 ter access to competition, the other young people will quite naturally become more competitive in the future.

Interspersed with the athletics pro- gramme were demonstrations of volleyball and netball games by mixed teams of national and village players. These were followed by short coaching clinics, mainly for local teams and would-be coaches, conducted by the national coaches.

The Olympic Day programme con- cluded in the late afternoon with a presen- tation of awards and prizes. The WFSGI t-shirts were also distributed. The NOC plans to introduce the organization of simi- lar sports programmes into the outer islands of Western Samoa, with the aim of involving all communities in sports activit- ies.’ (John Macdonald, NOC Secretary-General)

SENEGAL

1,000 Runners Dakar, 24th June As the Run coincided with an anti-drug campaign week organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, headed by Mr Abdou- laye Makhtar Diop, the NOC chose as this year’s theme ‘The Fight Against Narcotics and Drugs’. An initiative for health that was very well received.

With the emphasis on everyone taking part according to their age and abilities, five different courses were set for this third edition. “This event had wonderful success not equalled since the start of the celebra- tion of this day in our country”, says Mr Cheikh Maguette Ndiaye, NOC Secretary- General. Next year, the Run will start to be “decentralized”, with the first regional edi- End of Run presentation in tion in Thies. Senegal.

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President Premadasa hoists the Olympic flag in .

SUDAN

Over 1,000 Runners Khartoum, 22nd June The Olympic Day Run in the capital came at the end of the highly successful Sudan Sports Week, during which competitions were held in nineteen sports: athletics, , boxing, chess, equestrian sports, football, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, , taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and yachting. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Brig. lbrahim Nayel Edam, was there to support the runners, together with NOC Secretary-General Maj.- Gen. Mohamed Othman Malik and Trea- surer Maj.-Gen, Kamal Khamalla.

SRI LANKA

2,170 Runners Kandy, 23rd June The NOC was determined to make the Olympic Day Run a success this year, after last year’s projected first edition had to be cancelled. And a great start it certainly was too, with runners flagged off at the revered Buddhist shrine The Temple of the Tooth by no less a person that the President of Sri Lanka himself, Mr R. Premadasa. The 2,170 turnout, which included 450 women, is the biggest ever for a race in the country.

The following day, a seminar on the history of Olympism, given by two lecturers who had attended the IOA, attracted nearly 400 participants. It was chaired by Mr Nanda Matthew, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport.

594 SWEDEN

285 Runners Oestersund, 8th September Mr Lamine Ba starts off the Run Oestersund, candidate city for the Olympic in Sweden. Games in 1998, organized the Swedish Run Refreshments at the finish in this year as a relay, with two legs of 2.5 km Switzerland (left). and one of 5 km. Ninety five teams in all took part, in three categories, family, busi- SWITZERLAND ness and open. Amongst the runners, who were given the start by Mr Lamine Ba (CMR), IAAF Vice-President, was an “Old 390 Runners Olympians” team of Messrs Costa Gärdin, Zurich, 20th June Göran Johansson and Stig Pettersson, all Pouring rain did not deter this year’s Run in NOC members. Switzerland, even though it was the 21 km marathon organized annually by the Uni- versity Sports Federation.

SWAZILAND

Mbanane, 23rd September The 1990 edition of the Run at the Prince of Wales Sportsground in the capital was so successful, with a wide cross-section of ages taking part, that the NOC is already planning to hold the next edition in the city of Manzini as well as Mbanane.

Getting the message across in Swaziland.

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A race to the finish in the Chinese Run.

CHINESE TAIPEI

4,500 Runners Taipei, 8th April Participation in this ‘Run for the Spirit of the Olympics’ was remarkable, particularly considering the torrential rain. Entire fami- lies were amongst the several thousand runners, some armed with umbrellas, who turned up for the 6.30 am start in Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Square, The pistol was fired by the Mayor of Taipei, Mr Hu Po Hsiun.

Trophies were presented by Mr Henry Hsu, honorary IOC member, Ms Chi Cheng, President of the Chinese Taipei Track and Field Association, which had organized the event and Mr Ching Hua Lee, NOC Secretary-General. The first eight men and five women to finish were given plane tickets to the recent Asian Games in Beijing.

Tanzanian Runners get on their marks.

TANZANIA

2,000 Runners Dodoma, 23rd June For the first time, this year’s 10 km Olympic Day Run was organized outside Dar-es- Salaam, where the NOC is based, and in the new capital city of Dodoma, 480 km to the north-west. People of all ages, men, women, children, the able and the disabled took part. Netball, handball and volleyball matches were also organized to mark the occasion, which ended with a showing of videos of the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games.

596 TOGO

827 Runners, 53 Cyclists Lomé, 24th June A cross-country run and a cycling race were held to celebrate Olympic Day, now Starters line-up in Trinidad and an annual gathering for Togo’s sports family. Tobago. The Run was held over three distances, administrators and another for weightlifters, The two young princes present 12km for the men, 5 km for the women followed by a workshop for sports adminis- the prize in Tonga for the school and 3km for children. The cyclists did a trators in Vava’u, broadcast live to all the with the most Olympic Day route of 102 km, at an average speed of 36 130 outer islands as well as on the main Runners (far left). km/h. island of Tongatapu itself.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Approx. 300 Runners Port-of-Spain, 23rd June The Olympic Day Run rounded off a week of sporting activities, organized by the NOC, with the emphasis on field hockey and swimming. As in 1989, the Fun Run was a family event for all to enjoy, set again in the beautiful setting of Queen’s Park Savannah. A relaxed, happy occasion honoured by the presence of the President of the Republic, H.E. Mr Noor Hassanali, who, together with his wife, presented the IOC certificates to participants.

TONGA

30th June The Olympic Day Run in Tonga is organ- ized as part of the Heilala Festival to mark the birthday of King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, patron of the NOC. The royal family has always taken a keen interest in the event. This year, the race was started by his two grandsons Prince ‘Aho’eitu Tuku’aho and ‘Unauaki’o Tonga Tuku’aho riding on their bicycles and a goodwill message was read from Princess Salote Pilolevu Tuita, NOC President. The President, H. E. Mr Noor Two Solidarity workshops were also Hassanali, presenting the awards held during the week, one for sports in Port-of-Spain.

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URUGUAY

1,817 Runners Artigas, 8th July There were three ways of doing the 4.2 km Olympic Day Run, the first to be held in Argentina: running, walking or cycling it. Staged in Artigas, a town 500 kms away from the capital on the border with Brazil, the event turned into a real sports fest, complete with musical bands and gymnas- tics displays to entertain the spectators.

Sprint start in . Mass turnout for the Olympic Day celebrations in Uruguay (right).

TURKEY

1153 Runners Istanbul and Bursa, 17th June The fourth Olympic Day Run in Turkey was its first “double” run, held in the two cities of Istanbul and Bursa. And the result was an overall turnout treble that of last year, helped by the skilful planning of distances to suit everyone’s taste and, more import- antly, ability. Both runs divided entrants into five or six categories, with courses planned for them ranging from 10 to 10,000 in the best spirit of Sport for All. Significantly, nearly all participants managed to finish - there are no losers in an Olympic Day Run !

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