SEOUL, April 07 (AJP) - North Korea hosted the 31st Pyongyang International Marathon on Sunday, Pyongyang’s state media reported Monday. It was the first international marathon held in six years, following the country’s lockdown in 2020 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Pyongyang International Marathon is held annually to celebrate the birthday of Kim Il-sung, the founding father of North Korea, who was born in 1912. The event, which draws professional athletes and amateur running enthusiasts from around the world, offers four types of races: full marathon, half-marathon, 10-kilometer run, and 5-kilometer run.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that runners from North Korea, China, Romania, Morocco, Ethiopia, and other countries participated in the international event, along with spectators including foreign tourists, Pyongyang residents, and North Korean government officials.
According to state media, male and female North Korean runners won first place in the full marathon and swept the gold, silver, and bronze medals in the half-marathon. In the amateur category, Polish male runners took the top three places, while a female runner from Hong Kong finished first in the women’s race.
Around 180 foreign runners joined this year’s marathon through a six-day Pyongyang tour program organized by Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based travel agency. According to the exclusive travel partner of the event, the Pyongyang program offers foreign participants the opportunity to run through the streets of the North Korean capital and engage with locals.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
View more comments