The DPRK held its first international marathon in 6 years: a local runner won
Kyiv • UNN
The first international marathon since the pandemic was held in Pyongyang. Runners from different countries took part, and an athlete from North Korea won.
North Korea held its first international marathon in 6 years on Sunday, dedicated to the birthday of the country's founder and grandfather of the current leader Kim Jong-un - Kim Il-sung. The first to cross the finish line was a North Korean runner, Independent reports, writes UNN.
Details
The Pyongyang Marathon became the first international competition in the last 6 years, since the DPRK closed for quarantine from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, the marathon, founded in 1981, was held annually in April in honor of the birth of Kim Il-sung.
This year, almost 200 athletes from China, Ethiopia and other countries took part in the race, which ones are not specified.
Runners were allowed to enter the country as part of organized tourist groups, as was practiced in the DPRK before the coronavirus pandemic. The athletes were accompanied by Koryo Tours, based in Pyongyang and founded by the British, as stated on the agency's website.
Closed to the outside world, North Korea has allowed limited travel for Russian tourist groups after the end of the pandemic. But the country's capital remained closed to regular tourism.
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Photos from the strictly censored DPRK state media show North Korean runner Pak Kum Dong with strong emotions on his face crossing the finish line first. No other prize-winners are reported.
Other photos show guests of the sporting event training in downtown Pyongyang on Saturday and Sunday, while hundreds of locals lined the route to cheer.
The marathon route ran through the center of Pyongyang, past the main sights, then through a section in the countryside, and led the athletes to the capital's stadium, where 50,000 spectators were waiting for the winners.
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