SEOUL: North Korea has hosted its annual Pyongyang International Marathon for the first time in six years, resuming the event following its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday.
Marathon enthusiasts from North Korea, China, Morocco, Ethiopia and other countries took part in the event, held the previous day, which featured full and half marathons, as well as 10-kilometre and 5-kilometre races for both men and women.
The opening ceremony was held at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang and attended by Vice Premier and Vice Chairman of the State Sports Guidance Committee Pak Jong Gun, Sports Minister Kim Il Kuk, and other senior officials.
The Pyongyang International Marathon was launched in 1981 to commemorate the birthday of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung on 15 April and had been held annually until it was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The Rodong Sinmun, the main newspaper for the general public, reported that North Korean workers and adolescent students lined the capital’s major streets, waving and applauding as runners passed.
North Korean runners secured gold medals in both the men’s and women’s full marathon events. An Ethiopian athlete won silver in the men’s race, while a North Korean runner claimed silver in the women’s. Bronze medals were awarded to a North Korean in the men’s race and an Ethiopian in the women’s.
All medals in the half marathon event were won by North Korean runners, according to the reports.
In the amateur category, Polish runners swept all the medals in the men’s marathon, while a runner from Hong Kong took gold in the women’s amateur race. –BERNAMA
