12th Official Asian Games Fun Run in Mongolia 09-05-2005

Over three hundred children from Ulaanbaatar sprinted to the finish line at Chinggis Khan Camp as part of the Official Asian Games Fun Run which celebrated sport in Asia and highlighted the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

The event was supported by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and organised by the Mongolia National Olympic Committee.   Children from schools across Ulaanbaatar were invited to take part in the run which was held just outside the city in the traditional Chinggis Khan Camp.   The surrounding mountains dotted with Ger housing, grazing horses and camels provided a spectacular backdrop for the event and the traditional dance performance gave it a unique Mongolian feel.    

Mr Sukhbaatar Batbold, Executive Board Member of the NOC Mongolia and Chairman of the Sports for All Committee welcomed overseas visitors from the OCA, Olympic Solidarity (OS), East Asian NOC’s (North Korea, China, Macau, South Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Mongolia) and Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC) to the event.  Husain Ali Al-Musalam then said a few words about the importance of sport in the Asia and the sense of unity that it creates between the different nations.

The VIP guests presented the medals to the winners from the 3 different age groups but all the children who took part received a limited edition Asian Games Fun Run t-shirt and cap and upon completion a certificate of achievement from the Olympic Council of Asia.

The event attracted wide-spread press attention with local TV stations and newspapers all interested in covering the fun afternoon.