European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen and First Vice President Dobromir Karamarinov were handed the starter’s pistol this weekend to officially get the “Run Bulgaria” relay race (3x1786m) under way in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria.
More than 300 runners took part in the race, which is part of the “Run Bulgaria” project – a running series aimed at runners of all abilities and managed by the Bulgarian Athletic Federation in the context of the European Athletics’ Running for All programme. The project was co-created by Reneta Kamberova (second from right), who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics in rhythmic gymnastics.
At the end of the race, President Hansen also awarded the prizes to the senior women who finished the 5358m run.
“It was a great honour and pleasure to start the ‘Run Bulgaria’ event with the First Vice President,” said Hansen, who also met with the country's Minister of Youth and Sport Violeta Maleva.
“The importance of road running for the health and welfare of the general public cannot be understated. We were very impressed with the organisation of the event and it was clear to see that everyone from the runners to the spectators had a great time.”
A Kids’ Athletics competition featuring 50 children was organised alongside the relay race.
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The European Athletics Quality Road Race standards act as an assurance for road runners throughout Europe. They distinguish between races that respect the standards and those that haven’t sought certification or assessment. They form the foundation of Running for All, a strong recognisable brand for running activities throughout Europe.
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