On Monday, October 3, Peace and Sport organisation is giving sports enthusiasts an opportunity to take part in the first “I Move For Peace Run”.
The collective jog will be led by the world record holder for women’s marathon, Paula Radcliffe, who finished in 2:15:25 at the 2003 London Marathon.
Ms Radcliffe, who just took part in the first Disneyland Paris half-marathon last weekend, is a Monaco resident. “I like the lifestyle and Monaco is a good mix of French, Italian and the cosmopolitan English lifestyle. The schools are great, the kids are literally running around outside all year, and it’s safe.” She’s been involved for many years with Peace and Sport, a global initiative created in 2007 under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, working toward global sustainable peace, which, according to the mission statement “is not merely a state of absence of war. Peace is taught, learned and transmitted.”
“I am passionate about the many benefits sport brings into your life,” said Ms Radcliffe, who commentated for the BBC at the Rio Olympics in August. “You work together as a team and learn about yourself, and it gives you confidence – so any chance I have to introduce people to this, I want to take advantage of it.”
As a “Champion for Peace”, Ms Radcliffe was the marraine (“godmother”) of the Nice-Cannes Marathon in November 2013 and is concerned over the cancellation of the Nice Triathlon in October and the recent suspension of inscriptions for the Nice-Cannes Marathon, with a final fate of the event to be decided September 30. “It’s sad for the community and the people training for these events,” she said.
As part of Monday’s “I Move for Peace Run”, the Monaco resident who has represented Britain in four consecutive Olympics will give tips for warming up, running and stretching throughout and participants will have a chance to talk to Ms Radcliffe during a friendly post-run drinks party.
The “I Move for Peace” initiative will also be presented, the aim of which, according to Peace for Sports, “is to enable active and would-be sportspeople to be part of what matters by participating in sports activities to raise funds for Peace and Sport’s field programs”.
Those wishing to take part can sign up for as little as a €1 donation on the Peace and Sport website. All donations will go towards organizing the 2016 Friendship Games in the Great Lakes region of Africa.