Moscow, Russia - Starting at the "zero” kilometer in Red Square in Moscow, the track-and-field super-marathon for youth entitled “Children against Drugs – I Choose Sports!” was launched on June 11. For several years, the Moscow regional grassroots “Super-marathoners for a Healthy Lifestyle” in cooperation with the Modern Humanitarian Academy and the company “DEKATLON” have initiated this significant event. The race was sponsored by the Federal Service of Russia for Controlling Drug Traffic and the All-Russia Federation for Track-and-Field Sports. On the Belarus side, the marathon was supported by the President’s administration and the Belarus Ministry of Education. This year's super-marathon was dedicated to the bicentennial of Russia's victory over Napoleon's forces in the pivotal battle of Borodino during the Patriotic War of 1812.
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On a sunny morning, tens of participants and coaches from different regions of Russia together with other participants gathered together at Red Square. The chair of the organization committee, Sergei Suprunyuk, spoke about the origin of marathons and thanked the partners for their support. The deputy head of the Moscow Department of the Federal Service of Russia for Controlling Drug Traffic, Alexander Prostokishin, expressed his warm gratitude to the runners for their bright example of a healthy lifestyle and his hope that such programs will serve as models of effective drug abuse prevention. The Secretary General of UPF-Russia, Konstantin Krylov, welcomed the participants. He emphasized that Young Ambassadors for Peace have a very important mission in consolidating the ties of friendship and neighborliness on the long route from Moscow to Minsk (678 km/421 miles) and show a good example to the young generation. Official speeches alternated with beautiful displays of artistic talent by children’s and youth groups.
It should be mentioned that the participants in the super-marathon also held a friendly match with Young Ambassadors for Peace of UPF, and of course, friendship was the winner.
It is hoped that on June 23, when the race will end at Victory Square in Minsk, and then again on their return to Moscow on June 26, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the participants will not only receive commemorative certificates but also make plans for their future activity – creating a culture of peace by means of sports.