More than 4,000 school students will take part in the 17th edition of Salwan Marathon here on November 6 in the race touted as the world’s largest cross—country run for school children.
The participating children will include those visually impaired and intellectually challenged who will run a special 3.5km race. The marathon will be held at the Army Equestrian Centre, Brar Square.
In an effort to reach out to all the students community, Salwan Marathon has this year tied up with ‘Special Olympics Bharat’ and the NGO ‘Butterflies’ to get intellectually challenged students and street kids to participate in the run and with the schools for visually impaired students across India. UNICEF and FICCI are supporting the marathon.
Salwan Marathon brings together school students from various parts of India as well as neighbouring countries for the sheer joy of running. The marathon aims to re—define the character of Delhi as a sports centric city. It also attempts at making sports an integral part of every school’s curriculum.
The route this year will be longer with restricted participants and has increased by half a kilometer the special race, under 14 and under 16 categories, making the run leaner, faster and tougher.
Announcing the marathon, Sanjeev Rai, organiser Salwan Marathon, said, “This run is all about reiterating the need to raise the interest level in running at the grassroots level ... inculcating a spirit of sports amongst an ever widening section of youth of this country and teach them educational values through sports.
“The marathon is our way of making sports an integral part of every child’s growing years. We intend to replicate this run in various cities in coming years,” he said.
