Asian Games fun run in N. Korea

KUALA LUMPUR: The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will break new ground when it holds its 18th Asian Games Fun Run in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea on May 1.

OCA in a statement yesterday noted that the sports governing body began the Fun Run initiative to promote the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar in 2006 and has held a series of runs around the continent in the build-up to the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in 2010; Incheon, South Korea in 2014; and now the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia.

However, this is the first time the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Olympic Committee has joined in the Asian Games Fun Run series and OCA is delighted to be making its first official visit to Pyongyang for over six years.

“We are very happy and honoured to be working closely with the National Olympic Committee of DPR Korea and the OCA is very much looking forward to visiting Pyongyang again soon,” said OCA President, Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah in the statement.

“The Fun Run is proving to be a very popular and enjoyable way of promoting our Asian Games to a young generation of sports enthusiasts while also encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle.

“We are sure the Asian Games Fun Run in Pyongyang on May 1 will be a special occasion for the Olympic movement and a big success for all concerned.

“We would like to thank the NOC of DPR Korea for their support and efforts in organising the Pyongyang Fun Run, and we would like to wish all success to the DPRK athletes who will compete in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, this August and September,” he added. – Bernama