'Fun Run + Learn' is a joint initiative of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee to promote the causes of XVIIth Aiad, 2014 to be held in the said South Korean City from September 19 to October 4 of the current year. Generally, Fun Run includes road race or cross country run of a specified distance in which participants take part for having fun and pleasure only. It is non-competitive and usually organized for raising fund for a charitable cause. Participants of all ages take part in such run. On some occasions, sponsors give financial support to organize fun run dressing the participants with attire embedded with the logo of their products in order to promote a particular product and widen their brand identity. Motorized vehicles are also used in fun run. This run is widely organized in different countries of Europe, most popular and biggest fun run organized annually in Europe being the 'la cursa El Corte Ingles' held in Barcelona, Spain drawing more than 50,000 participants. This run is also organized as an event preceding a marathon or long distance running.
OCA and IAGOC jointly decided to utilize traditional Fun Run with added features as a promotional event of the XVIIth edition of the Asian Games. Accordingly, OCA and IAGOC undertook a project titled 'Fun Run + Learn' which is basically an educational programme focusing the youth of the countries of OCA Member NOCs. The main objective was to make them interested in the upcoming Incheon Asiad. OCA, on 29th December, 2011 in Kuwait confirmed the 'Fun Run + Learn' event of XVIIth Asiad, 2014. The programme consisted of three elements namely Asian Games 'Youth Reporter Project', 'Fun Learn' and 'Fun Run'. Under the Youth Reporter Project, the respective National Olympic Committees included an essay competition for under-16 students. The students adjudged as the best essay writers got the privilege of taking part in the three-hour-long English Writing Workshop arranged by OCA on Asian Games before the day fixed for Fun Run. The winner of each NOC was included in the OCA-IAGOC reporting team formed for the IVth Asian Indoor & Martial Art Games, Incheon, 2013 and the XVIIth Asiad to be held in the same city one year later. Fun Learn included a quiz competition for school children on Asian Games and the disciplines featured in the Games. The winners received prizes given by IAGOC. Fun Run was the most common and widely organized activity of the 45 NOCs of OCA on the occasion of XVIIth Asian Games. The participants received certificates, caps and T-shirts with Incheon Asiad and OCA logo and other gift items specially produced for the event by IAGOC with the assistance of Olympic Council of Korea. The first official Fun Run of XVIIth Asiad, 2014 was organized by IAGOC on 12th April, 2011 in Incheon Sunrise Park. Around 400 boys and girls of Haesang High School of the host city participated in the 2 km race. Host City Mayor Song Young Gil, IAGOC President Lee Yun Tack and OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam graced the inaugural Fun Run with their presence.
The 'Fun Run + Learn' Programme of the XVIIth Incheon Asian Games were observed by all the 45 NOCs affiliated with the OCA at different legs. In the inaugural year 2011, some 11 NOCs implemented this promotional project of the above Asian Games according to the schedule fixed by OCA & IAGOC. Most common event organized by the NOCs on this occasion was 'Fun Run'. The 2012 schedule of the programme launched by OCA and IAGOC included NOCs among others of China, Iran, Macau, Malaysia, Oman, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan. The NOCs implemented all the three elements of the project sequentially by undertaking 'Youth Report Project' first followed by 'Fun Learn' and lastly 'Fun Run'. The implementation of the project was followed by a break from mid-May to mid-September 2012 for the XXXth Games of Olympiad, London, 2012.
NOC, Bangladesh, that is, Bangladesh Olympic Association organized the third event of the programme, the 'Fun Run' on 25th April, 2014 in Dhaka. For smooth conduct of the programme NOC Bangladesh constituted a committee headed by one of the Deputy Secretaries General Mr S M Imtiaz Khan Babul. Ms Kamrun Nahar Dana, a national sports awardee worked as the member secretary. Syed Shahed Reza, Secretary General and OCA Merit award winner in 2013 was present on the occasion. Besides, Shakh Bashir Ahmed, Vice President, other Executive Committee Members and Brig Gen Fakruddin Haider (Retd), Director General were also present in the run. Participants included students of the Government Physical College, Dhaka, Viqurunnesa Girls' School & College, Dhaka and athletes and organizers especially the running Executive Committee office bears of different National Sports Federations affiliated with and recognized by BOA. The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh also showed a very good measure of interest in observing this signature programme of Incheon Asian Games by NOC, Bangladesh. The Minister of the Ministry of Women & Children Affairs Ms Meher Afroz Chumki, MP graced the occasion by her presence. Like earlier observances of this Incheon Asiad Programme by other NOCs, a three-member OCA delegation arrived in Dhaka on this occasion. They were Mr Vahid Kardany of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr Nayan Sarj of the Republic of India and Mr Jian Zhou of the People's Republic of China. On the other hand, Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee, 2014 was represented by a five-member delegation. They respectively were Mr Syun Sook Shin, Mr Byung Jin Ya, Mr Jeong Seok Pung, Mr Bong Seok Seo and Mr Jung Ghya Seo of the Host Country, Republic of Korea.
The Fun Run organized by BOA as part of the implementation of the pre-Incheon Asiad Promotional Programme initiated by the OCA and the IAGOC, 14 was a colourful and festive one. The athletes and organizer of NFs present were jubilant as they knew that some of our athletes selected for competing in the XVIlfh Incheon Asiad were being coached and trained by experienced coaches of the Host Country, Democratic Republic of Korea, one of the best friends of Bangladesh. We expect that the sincerity and jubilation with which our young athletes took part in the 'Fun Run' would be reflected in their performance in the Asiad, 2014.
© 2025 - All Rights with The Financial Express
