Tagaytay, Philippines, June 5, 2023: Olympic athletes and Asian Games medal-winners joined in the Philippines leg of the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run at Tagaytay City on Monday, June 5.
Among the 500 runners were the Philippines’ Tokyo Olympic boxing bronze medallist Eumir Marcial, Olympic swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi and Asian Games wushu bronze medallist Agatha Wong, who is also a five-time SEA Games champion.
With national team athletes from other sports also present, the star factor proved to be a major selling point for the national media and also a wonderful photo opportunity for the other participants.
“The Olympic Council of Asia would like to thank the Philippine Olympic Committee and the City of Tagaytay for their excellent organisation of the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run,” said the OCA’s Projects and Operations Manager, Wissam Trkmani.
“The presence of these elite athletes has really added value to the event and provided happy memories for everyone taking part. Hopefully, in the near future, we will be seeing some of these young participants in the Asian Games Fun Run going on to represent their country and their flag in the Asian Games and Olympic Games.
“The Olympic Council of Asia always puts athletes at the heart of everything we do, so I would like to say a big thank you to all the athletes from the national teams of the Philippines for giving up their valuable time and finding a place in their busy training schedules to join the Asian Games Fun Run.”
The President of the Philippine Olympic Committee and Mayor of the City of Tagaytay, Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, welcomed the participants and guests at the opening ceremony.
The Director of the Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee’s human resources department, Chen Qiufang, then provided a brief update on preparations for the Asian Games, which will run from September 23 to October 8, 2023. She said the Asian Games Fun Run overseas series began in Cambodia last October and, so far, had visited 23 countries. The Philippines leg was the 24th event, and helped connect the Asian Games and the city of Hangzhou to the local people.
On behalf of the OCA, Mr. Trkmani said the Asian Games Fun Run celebrated the spirit of sportsmanship and Olympic values and brought people together in a fun and friendly environment.
The Philippines leg of the Asian Games Fun Run comprised of three distances - 6km, 3km and 1km – and medals and certificates were presented to the participants by the dignitaries.
