Dushanbe, Tajikistan, April 19, 2023: The Olympic Council of Asia’s “Asian Games for All” promotional campaign in Tajikistan came to a conclusion on a bright and sunny day in Dushanbe on Wednesday, April 19.
The main event, the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run, attracted over 300 runners for the picturesque 1km route alongside a river and through one of the many green and leafy parks of the capital.
Before the fun run started, the National Olympic Committee of Tajikistan announced the 10 winners of the Asian Games children’s art competition which was held on Friday, April 14. The OCA will choose the best four art works to put on display at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8.
The second element of the Asian Games for All campaign, the youth reporter project, took place on Tuesday, April 18. A panel of judges presented a shortlist of four entries to the OCA and the winner of the best essay was declared as Umedjon Urusaliev, who will be invited to join the OCA media team at the 19th Asian Games.
The opening ceremony of the fun run was attended by leading officials from the government and NOC as well as delegations from the OCA and the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee.
The Sports Minister, Rahmonzoda Abdullo, welcomed everyone to the event and congratulated the winners of the children’s art competition and youth reporter project.
The Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan, Ji Shumin, spoke of the strong links between the two countries and wished the Tajikistan athletes all the best for the 19th Asian Games in China.
The OCA was represented by Project and Operations Manager Wissam Trkmani, who said the OCA was “honoured and delighted” to have the opportunity to hold the Asian Games Fun Run in Dushanbe.
“We are celebrating the spirit of friendship and sportsmanship. It is an opportunity to come together and feel part of the Asian Games. I hope that many of you will go on to take part in the Asian Games in the future as an athlete or official,” he added.
The OCA representative thanked the local organising committee for all their hard work and dedication in hosting all three elements of the OCA’s Asian Games for All campaign over a six-day period, which reflected the slogan of the Hangzhou Asian Games, “Heart to Heart, @Future”.
“Let’s all look forward to a great day of fun and fitness,” he concluded.
The official speeches were concluded by the HAGOC head of delegation, Zhou Miaorong, Deputy Director, Volunteers Department, who thanked the participants for supporting the Hangzhou Asian Games by attending the fun and also joining the children’s art competition and youth reporter project.
The VIP guests also included Tajikistan’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s hammer throw champion Dilshod Nazarov, who is now Vice President of the National Olympic Committee. He joined in the presentation of 50 medals to fun run participants.
There was also an exchange of souvenir gifts between the various parties as a mark of respect for the cooperation and support in organising the event.
The Tajikistan event was the 17th leg of the continent-wide Asian Games Fun Run and the OCA is planning to organise a total of 33.
