Rwandans and foreigners participating in the Kigali International Peace Marathon 2024 appreciated the city’s cleanliness and safety.
They echoed this sentiment on Sunday when the Kigali Peace Marathon marked its 19th edition.
The Kigali International Peace Marathon features three stages which are the full marathon with 42 kilometers, the half marathon with 21.9 kilometers, and the Run for Peace which has 10 kilometers for recreational runners.
In a thrilling display of athleticism and determination, Laban Korir of Kenya emerged triumphant in the men’s full marathon of the 19th Kigali International Peace Marathon.
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He praised how the race was prepared.
“In general, the race was good, despite the challenges of the weather and the up and downs. In general, the race was very good,” said Laban.
Rwandans who participated in the race acknowledged that although no one has won a gold medal yet, their goal is to achieve this in the near future.
The participants of the Run for Peace appreciate the Kigali City administration for establishing excellent sports infrastructure. Foreign participants also praised the beauty of Kigali.
“It was great. It was a little hilly, but the roads were clean and wide. It was a really nice run.”
Although Kenyans took the first place in this competition, the Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, observed that the performance of Rwandan athletes is promising and gives hope for even better results in the future.
She said, “This is the first time we’ve seen many athletes from Rwanda participate and win the full marathon as well as in the men’s and women’s half marathon categories. This achievement marks a significant improvement from last year.”
Overall, participants of the 19th Kigali International Peace Marathon came from 35 countries on different continents. Statistics revealed that 10,183 individuals registered for the race, with four thousand being foreigners and over six thousand being Rwandans.
The Kigali International Peace Marathon has long been more than just a race; it stands as a beacon of hope and solidarity, bringing together athletes from diverse backgrounds to promote harmony and understanding.
