Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 17: In a run-up to the marathon event scheduled for 20th of this month, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today inaugurated a 3 day ‘Kashmir Marathon Expo’ organized by the Tourism Department at Polo Ground here.
The Chief Secretary was accompanied by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Commissioner Secretary, Tourism; Director Tourism, Kashmir besides other concerned officers.
While speaking in the inaugural session of the event, the Chief Secretary exhibited hope that this mega event, in which more than 2000 runners are participating from all over the country including some overseas athletes, would be made an annual feature. He said that such events reinvigorates commitment of the Government towards promoting adventure tourism along with eco-tourism, leisure and niche tourism in the UT.
Dulloo maintained that this Expo would provide a platform to our entrepreneurs to display and sell their products. Besides, they will get an opportunity to promote our niche crops and unique handicrafts and handloom items prepared by our versatile artists. He stated that promotion of tourism of any sort is directly associated with boosting of trade, which ultimately accrues into creation of livelihood opportunities for our youth.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the function, Yasha Mudgal, Commissioner Secretary for Tourism said that nearly 2,100 runners have registered on the portal, including both international and national-level athletes from countries such as Kenya, Denmark, Norway, and the UAE, along with participants from 27 states and Union Territories across India. “They will stay here for two to three days, boosting the local economy and tourism. They will become our brand ambassadors in their respective countries, contributing to our efforts to position Kashmir as an international tourist destination. We also offer on-the-spot registration, so we anticipate massive participation,” she added.
She further emphasized that the Tourism Department has strategically promoted the Kashmir Marathon by reaching out to well-known celebrities and social media influencers, generating significant interest.
The marathon will feature two disciplines: the full marathon (42 km) and the half marathon (21 km), with professional runners participating in the event. “Although this is the first edition of the marathon and international accreditation is typically not granted for inaugural events, our marathon is backed by the international body of long-distance running, which enhances its credibility. The run will be accurately measured, and every runner will wear a bib that tracks their distance and speed. We have also arranged for anti-doping tests to ensure that our winners are legitimate,” she explained.
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