For the very first time, international athletes would be competing with each other and thousands of local athletes in the Srinagar International Marathon today. The event has been organised at a grand scale with as many as 59 athletes likely to participate in the event. The athletes shall be running 42 kilometres full marathon and 21 kilometres half marathon. A total of 2000 athletes are expected to participate in the event. The foreign athletes are from 23 different nationalities and the local athletes are from different states and union territories.
To organize an event of this magnitude requires great organizational skill, manpower, alignment with protocol, inter-department healthy collaboration and a great vision. Ten years ago no one could have thought that an event of this magnitude could be organised in Kashmir. The LG administration worked tremendously hard to make things happen in Kashmir and now big ticket events are happening almost on a daily basis. The recently concluded Legends League of Cricket which happened before jam-packet audiences at Bakshi stadium is emblematic of how Kashmir has developed as a hub of hosting major sports events.
The Omar Abdullah-led government is also keen to take things to a different orbit of development and prosperity. Already Omar Abdullah visited the fire victims in Kishtawar in person and assured all possible help. This is a great feeler and people are already feeling positive about the Omar-led administration.
We hope that this international marathon would bring back to the centre of international events and many other event organizers are promoted to conduct further events in Kashmir. There is a great scope to further improve our stadiums, our roads, our hotels and once this is done then sky is the limit. With the natural beauty that Kashmir is gifted with it has the potential to attract international events and also emerge as ace theme wedding destination of the country.
Waiting for the athletes to run this race and bring glory to themselves and also to Kashmir.
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