Run for Peace – HSBC Vivicitta – June 1st 2008
Beirut, Lebanon, has for many years been depicted as “the war ravaged city of the Middle East” where peace is but a dream. However, as of today, a new president has been elected and the political world has seen fit to agree upon a common plan of action for a stable and secure future, so with this chapter finally closed, Lebanon is set to make a different kind of history.
The Beirut Marathon Association (BMA) has for a long time faced monumental challenges, through times of war and assassinations and political unrest. to host events of international acclaim. In its five year history the event has seen some 167,000 participants join together to run, defying the forces that have worked against stability, laying claim to being the Middle East’s largest annual sporting athletic event.
The title of the race is given by UISP (Unione Italia Sport per Tutti) which since its inception 25 years ago in Sarajevo has been an international event whose aim has been to bring together people of all nations to run for peace. Now in its second year in Lebanon the event stands to make a statement for peace as the country takes its first steps into a new world.
HSBC Vivicitta will comprise two races, an International Half Marathon where international athletes are joining together in the race with Mare Dibaba (Female 1st Place Warsaw Half Marathon 08, PB 71:54) and Shitaye Gemechu (Female 4th Place Paris Marathon 08) taking the women’s field and men, DEREJE TADESSE GIRMA – ETHIOPIA (with an unofficial 61:50 time), and ALEMAYEHU SHUMYE TAFERE - ETHIOPIA (71 minute half in Ethiopia, making his first international appearance) the race is set to be a stiff competition. Lebanese champions are thrilled to be facing an international field of such a high caliber and with a prize purse of $15,000 the race is set to take its place in the world’s annual sporting calendar. The second event of the day will be a 5k Student’s Run for Peace which will count towards the Lebanese Championships.
The track takes the athletes on a tour of East and West Beirut, passing some of the most beautiful parts of the city, including running along the corniche, once famed to be the Monaco of the Middle East, before turning inland and passing along the ‘green line’ that once separated the two sides of a warring nation, before returning to the iconic reconstructed downtown central district of the now bustling and modern Beirut.
BMA President May El Khalil said “HSBC Vivicitta Run for Peace is unique and its timing perfect in celebrating a new peace in Lebanon, and in sending out a message of hope through sports. We want the world to see that through sports unity can be achieved, and we believe that this is a message to the world of the start of a new era. We hope that sports organizations and media across the globe will trumpet this initiative in support of a better world”.
HSBC CEO Charles Hall said, “We are proud to be associated with this event and have signed a four year partnership with the BMA because we believe in the professionalism of the organization and the aims of the race. It supports our global Corporate Social Responsibility values and we hope to see a worldwide impact for peace through this event”.
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6 comments:
where are the results?
Ramzeh
The primary results will be posted today and the remaining results will be delivered by the Lebanese Athletic Federation today or tomorrow
thank you
race is finished from 2 days and no results. what do u mean from primary results and remaining results? what is difference?
and why are you waiting Lebanese Athletic Federation when the timing machines of championship are belonging to bma? we want to see chip times on the website
ramzeh
I REALY WONDER IF WHOEVER ORGANIZED THIS RACE WAS A PERSON WITH SPORIVE ETHICS OR JUST A CARNIVAL PERFORMER.
Dear Ramzeh... I have searched the results of the last few RRA Races and our own races and find no record of your registration either in their race or ours... so, if your objective is to help and make things better please be clear about who you are so that we can ensure you have your results.
Primary results means the first listing of the first five places (see the website!) and the remaining results are posted after the checkpoints of the Federation and our own referees have been verified.
The timing chip was an option for runners who chose to buy the chip. The cost of each chip is very high and we offered this service if people so wished. Their results are posted to the championchip site. Therefore, as not everyone is timed with a chip, the Federation results are binding. But anyway, I am quite sure that you know all this already.
And for the clown who posts that this event is organized by a carnival performer, well, there's no place for you on our stage! Professional runners and amateurs alike, who frequently run with our races and whom we run with, have commented in an extremely positive and helpful way... which leads me to believe you are probably wasting my time.
As I have mentioned in my previous postings, positive and constructive criticism is welcome. The rest? Keep it for yourself, or the edification of those of similar mind.
ps: if you want to be insulting, at least learn to spell
i have not said if i was running in the events or just watching but it should not be an important thing for teh results as the results are for the race and people who want to know. friends run in races and it is good to follow friends results which is why championship is good for this.
still no results on your championship page???
yes i know that races give prizes for runners in finish order and the chip is for the people who want it for personal time and but you say that chip costs too much money but there are no chip times anywhere. even for the people who buy the chip.
it is no matter for who i am or to get my results and i only want all to be good. it is easy to say good things but this only makes people think all is good and do nothing more. maybe it is good also to look more carefully at all things not good in your race to make them more good, yes?
it looks like your chips is not working and u are waiting for federation only so plz be honest with us to.
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