7-km marathon marks 74th International Olympic Day celebration

Staff REPORTER

ITANAGAR, Jun 23: Joining the rest of the globe, Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the 74th International Olympic Day themed ‘Together for a peaceful world’ here today, with a ‘marathon’ race marking the celebration.

The event was organized by the Arunachal Olympic Association (AOA) in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports, GoAP including Paralympic Association of Arunachal. 

The marathon race was flagged off by Itanagar Municipal Council (IMC) Mayor Tame Phassang in presence of Education Minister cum AOA president Taba Tedir, AOA general secretary Bamang Tago and others.

On the occasion, the Mayor highlighted how the Olympic Games started and also spoke about the motives behind its inception. 

The main motive of the Olympic is to create oneness among all nations in the world through game without any discrimination to each other, he said adding the people specially the youth should not take the wrong path and take part in games and sports.  

On 23rd June the International Olympic Day is celebrated to commemorate the day when the International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894, aiming to promote participation in sports across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

The purpose of the Olympic Movement was always to promote peace through sport.

Sport always builds bridges and brings people together in peace and solidarity. In these difficult times we are living through, with conflict and division on the rise, we need this unifying power of sport more than ever before, said Tago.

On the occasion, a 7-km marathon race with the theme ‘Run for Sports & Peace’ started from Govt Sec School, Chimpu and culminated at Nyokum Laphang, Itanagar.

The race was held for men, women and open to all categories, where more than thousands senior citizens, boys and girls, participated from across the State.   

In the girls’ category, Joti Mane, who completed the distance in 45 minutes, bagged the top prize, Yabang Tali (47 mins) was ranked second and Pomen Tepoa (54) came in third.  

In the boys’ category, Harang Cheri, who finished the distance in 38 minutes, took the first position, Tangu Ngamle (39 mins) came in second and Habung Nyipa (40) was adjudged third.

In the Under-9 category Kyon Tamin and Kangun Jamoh finished in first and second position respectively.

In the senior category, Dr Kago Gambo and Tai Hipik grabbed the first and second position respectively.  

Meanwhile, the 74th International Olympic Day was also celebrated at the convention hall of Rajiv Gandhi University today in a cheerful way.

International Olympic Day is also considered a celebration of sports and health celebrated annually on June 23rd by holding competitions and demonstrations in various sports all over the world, informed TabaTedir, the chief guest.

Tedir also stated that the purpose of the Olympic Movement was always to promote peace through sport.

AOA senior vice president Abrham K Techi, in his keynote address, stated that sport always builds bridges and brings people together in peace and solidarity. We need this unifying power of sport more than ever before, he said and added that this Olympic spirit guides us as we strive to go faster, aim higher, become stronger by standing together – for a peaceful world.

The daylong celebration was organized by the AOA in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports, GoAP, RGU and Paralympic Association of Arunachal.

A total of 117 athletes of various sports disciplines including coaches who have earned Gold, Silver and Bronze during the year 2021-2022 were felicitated on the occasion.