31st Official Asian Games Fun Run in Lahore, Pakistan 17-09-2006

Over four hundred children sprinted to the finish line inside Bagh-E-Jinnah Park, in the heart of Lahore, on Sunday 17th September, as part of the 31st Official Asian Games Fun Run.  The Fun Run celebrated sport in Asia and highlighted the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

The event was organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Pakistan National Olympic Committee along with a huge local organising committee who all worked together to successfully co-ordinate all aspects of the event from opening and closing ceremony to media and entertainment to make this Fun Run a real highlight in the Pakistan community.

The fun run consisted of three different age groups of children over varying distances including boys aged 9 – 10 years completing 2km, girls 11 – 12 years completing 2.5km and boys 13 – 14 years completing 3km. The course had plenty of water stops along the way to ensure all the runners were well hydrated in the very hot temperatures.

The stunning Bagh-E-Jinnah gardens is an icon of Lahore and was the perfect location for the Fun Run and took the runners past the gardens library, mosque, various restaurants, childrens parks, tennis courts and a cricket pitch. The gardens also boasts array of spices, trees and an abundance of wildlife.

Each group of children took part in individual warm ups conducted by the physical education teachers from various schools before heading to the start line.

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 Mr Fayyaz Bashir - Secretary of Agriculture and  Govt. of the Punjab. Other important dignitaries from NOC Pakistan including Secretary General Mr Abdul Khaliq Khan were also present to enjoy the event.

TV crew from various stations were present on the course and camera men were transported on the back of mopeds to make ensure none of the action was missed. The event attracted wide-spread press attention and was featured that evening on ATV and GEO TV.  Local daily newspapers both in Urdu and English language including Daily Times, The News, Daily Express, Daily Nawa-i-Waqt and Daily Jang were also present to capture all the action. 

It was impressive to see just how serious Pakistan NOC was to make sure the Asian Games Fun Run in Lahore was a real hit, not only with the participants but the local community as well. The organisation of all aspects of the run were well thought out and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.