Macau, China, June 11, 2023: The stunning cityscape of Macau and sparkling blue South China Sea provided a spectacular backdrop for the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run on a sweltering Sunday morning.
A total of 680 runners joined in the 2km run, which started and finished at the Macau Science Center and took participants along the Avenue Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and past the landmark Kun Iam Statue jutting out into the estuary of the South China Sea separating the Macau peninsula and Taipa island.
The bright and sunny conditions, the colourful signage of the local organising committee and the sparkling white T-shirts of the runners created a festival atmosphere and contributed to a memorable occasion.
"I would like to congratulate the Sports and Olympic Committee of Macau, China and the Sports Bureau of the Macau Special Administrative Region Government for all their hard work and preparations," said the Olympic Council of Asia's Director of Media and Broadcast, Mr Jeans Zhou Jian.
"They have done a great job - and the weather was perfect after the thunderstorm the previous night. Every runner received a medal and certificate, which even had the name of every individual runner. This shows the high level of preparation given to the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run by the local organisers."
The start of the run was preceded by an exchange of souvenirs between the OCA, Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee, the Macau Olympic Committee and the Sports Bureau.
Mr Andrew Chan Chak Mo, Secretary General of the Sports and Olympic Committee of Macau, China, said the fun run had certainly put the Hangzhou Asian Games in the spotlight.
"Everyone in Macau is looking forward to the Hangzhou Asian Games this year, so it was a pleasure for us to welcome the OCA and HAGOC to Macau to celebrate this fun run together," he said.
"The event has been well supported by the local sports community and by students and their families, so we can say it has added a lot of excitement in the build-up to the Hangzhou Asian Games."
Macau will send 180 athletes in 21 sports to the Asian Games, which will take place in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China, from September 23 to October 8, 2023.
