Darjeeling: Darjeeling police are running the extra
mile to foster peace and harmony by lining up a half-marathon with
international athletes on January 12.
The marathon, being organised in association with The Telegraph and
the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), is part of a plan to
improve police-public ties through a number of initiatives.
The police are currently hosting football tournaments across
the hills and, with more than Rs 6.5 lakh as prize money, the events are
turning out to be major attractions.
The 21km half-marathon is expected to be even bigger. "The
half-marathon will be held on January 12, the 155th birth anniversary of
Swami Vivekananda. International athlete Anju Bobby George will be the
chief guest," said Akhilesh Chaturvedi, SP, Darjeeling.
Anju made history when she won the bronze medal in long jump
at the 2003 World Championship in Paris and became the first Indian
athlete to win a medal at a word championship in athletics.
"International athletes, especially from Kenya and Nigeria, will be
participating at the event," said Chaturvedi. The run will start at 8.30
am from Sukhiapokhri and end at Chowrasta.
In an effort to encourage local runners, the organisers have
also decided to have a separate category solely for residents of
Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts and another category for police
personnel from West Bengal.
While the winners in open category, both male and female, will
be getting a prize money of Rs 1.5 lakh, the first and second runners
up will be awarded Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.
"For the winners, first and second runner ups in the
Darjeeling hills category and police category, the amount will be Rs
25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 respectively," said Chaturvedi.
Winners up to the 10th position will be getting prize money
and the total prize money for the marathon will be around Rs 8 lakhs.
In the past one month, police and the local administration has
been hosting a number of events to send out a message that there is
peace in the hills. The GTA recently organised a- five- day
Teesta-Rangeet Tourism Festival across the hills. On New Year's Eve,
Darjeeling police organised a musical show at Chowrasta.
Apart from the marathon, the state government will also be
organising Uttar Banga Utsav on January 12 and 13 at Chowrasta. "During
the marathon day, we will also get well known Nepali artists to perform
at Chowrasta," said Chaturvedi.
The Telegraph
Post a Comment
We love to hear from you! What's on your mind?