Thimphu, Bhutan, April 3, 2025: Under the serene gaze of one the world’s largest sitting Buddha, the first Fun Run to mark the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games took place on Thursday, April 3.
The magnificent backdrop – the 177-feet Buddha Dordenma statue at Buddha Point overlooking the capital Thimphu and standing at an elevation of 2,650 metres – plus hundreds of smiling schoolboys and schoolgirls combined to create an awesome first leg of the fun run.
And it was a tough 2.5 kilometre course, all uphill, which 250 school children plus many delegates from National Olympic Committees attending the OCA-OS Regional Forum in the Bhutanese capital took in their stride.
“I have participated in every fun run over the last three Asian Games, but this was easily the most challenging one. It was only two-and-a-half kilometres but the energy expended made it look like a 10km run,” said Jeans Zhou Jian, OCA Director of Media and Broadcast.
OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari flagged off the race at 8am on a crisp morning and 12 minutes later Pema Dherdup, 19, crossed the finish line. The first girl to cross was Chimmi Pelden, 15, who completed the course in 19 minutes 11 seconds.
“This race was all about creating awareness for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games next year and I hope I can one day represent Bhutan at this prestigious event,” said Dherdup who represented Bhutan in the 3,000m event at the Asian Athletics Championships in Dubai last year.
Bhutan will only be represented in three sports in Aichi-Nagoya – archery, boxing and shooting.
Edward Kensington, Olympic Solidarity Head of Universality, also took on the uphill course. “I walked, didn’t run. Now like most of the kids, we will be going back to the classroom.”
Edward and his seven-strong team from the International Olympic Committee had taken time off from presenting the Olympic Solidarity programme for 2025-2028 to NOCs from East, Southeast and South Asia to take part in the ‘Asian Games for All’ celebrations to mark next year’s Asian Games.
Secretary General of the Maldives Olympic Committee Thamooh Ahmed Saeed was another participant: “I ran a bit, but walked more. We are all here to support the Bhutan Olympic Committee and their efforts to promote the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.”
The Fun Run, one of three elements in the OCA’s Asian Games for All campaign – the other two being the Asian Youth Reporters project and an Art Competition – will be held around 30 Asian NOC’s in the run-up to the Aichi-Nagoya showpiece next September. Bhutan was the start of this promotional drive.
“This run is very special. It felt like the spirit of Olympic values was embodied in this place,” said Wissam Trkmani, OCA Director of Development and NOC Relations, who also ran.
It was a special run. Buddha’s tranquil smile seemed to spread joy among all participants.
The next Fun Run will be held in a few days in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
