Chairman of the Board of Astana Invest Yerzhan Baltayev met with the founder and director of Astana Marathon Gaukhar Bramley-Fenton and discussed further cooperation within the framework of the "Visit Nur-Sultan" City’s Partnership Program.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the possibilities of conducting amateur short-running in rural areas and villages (auls) of Kazakhstan by setting a series of short-distance races throughout the year. Nur-Sultan city has unique weather conditions and a favorable landscape for setting world records. Every year the popularity of running competitions in the capital and the country as a whole is growing, and this sport is attracting international participants.
The capital marathon began in 2009. Then we held the first 7 km charity race. And the very first and full-fledged race at a distance of 42.2 km took place in 2015. More than 5,000 people took part in it. This year has become a landmark for the further development of this sport in the country, ”reports Gaukhar Bramley-Fenton.
Already in 2019, Astana Marathon received the World Athletics Bronze Label award, becoming the first Label marathon in Central Asia recognized by the World Athletics organization. And since 2020 Astana Marathon has entered the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group qualifying marathons group.
"Our task today is to develop marathon running in the capital, as well as to promote the image of the city and the country at the global level. We can implement similar projects together with Astana Marathon within the framework of the "Visit Nur-Sultan" City’s Partnership Program", explained Yerzhan Baltayev.
As a result of the meeting, an agreement was reached on signing a Cooperation Agreement for the development of sports and entertainment events in the capital and the regions of the country.
Interesting Facts:
The oldest marathon is 121 years old in Boston, the youngest in the city of Atyrau is 2 years old. The cost of participation in the most massive marathon in the world in New York is $ 338, and in Almaty - $ 13. The highest chance to set a world record is at the Berlin Marathon, the most realistic chance to set a Kazakhstani record is at the marathon in Nur-Sultan. It is guaranteed to run in the London Marathon after five unsuccessful attempts in the lottery, in Nur-Sultan - everyone has such an opportunity.