30th Official Asian Games Fun Run in Male, Maldives 12-09-2006

Over four hundred children sprinted to the finish line at Male’s Children’s Park, on Tuesday 12th September, as part of the 30th Official Asian Games Fun Run.  The Fun Run celebrated sport in Asia and highlighted the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

Organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Maldives National Olympic Committee and Sports Federation the Fun Run consisted of three groups of children including boys aged 9 – 10 years, 11 – 12 years and girls aged 13 -14 years.

All the runners took part in a group aerobics warm up to some up-beat music which got everyone buzzing before heading to the start line. The run was 1km which is relatively long considering the entire island is 2km square. The route of run started at the Children’s park and out onto the streets of Male and past a long stretch of beach with some picturesque surf breaks.

Each child that took part was rewarded with a certificate of achievement and a limited edition 15th Asian Games T-shirt from the OCA. There was some fierce competition in each group with some very close finishes and the winners from each race were presented with bronze, silver or gold medals by special guest of honor Superintendent of Education Mrs Jameela Ali khalid as well as Husain Ali Al-Musalam, Director General of OCA and various other representatives from OCA and DAGOC. 

The event attracted wide-spread press attention and was featured that evening on Television Maldives and Voice of Maldives radio station. Local daily newspapers including Haveeru Daily, Miadhu Daily, Aafathis Daily and Jazeera Daily both in English and Dhivhi (the local language) and Evening Weekly in English language where also present to capture all the action.