However hard it is to gain independence, making it enduring and immortal is harder.
Heydar Aliyev
Baku Marathon 2023
On May 7, Baku Marathon 2023 was held on the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
Held in the framework of the “Year of Heydar Aliyev”, the marathon was devoted to the 100th anniversary of National Leader Heydar Aliyev.
Persons over the age of 18 participated in the competition. 19,500 people got registered to participate in the marathon. Along with Azerbaijani citizens, foreigners residing in Azerbaijan, as well as participants from other countries got registered to participate in the marathon. Among them were participants from USA, Belarus, the Great Britain, China, France, Georgia, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Poland, Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine etc. A number of renowned people competed as participants of honour.
Veterans of Karabakh and people with physical disabilities also participated in the competition.
First start at the marathon was given for people with physical disabilities and children with Down syndrome. At the second start, other participants joined the marathon.
Held under the slogan “Win the Wind”, the semi-marathon covered the distance of 21 kilometres. The start and finish points were at the State Flag Square, with the route covering central streets and avenues of the city, crossing the boulevard.
At the end of the sportive competition, winners were determined. In the competition of women, Natalya Somonovich from Ukraine was first. Hasibe Demir from Türkiye took the second place, with another Ukrainian athlete, Valentina Paltavska, being the third.
At the Baku Marathon, Bogdan Somonovich from Ukraine, representative of Georgia David Karatashvili and Hakan Çoban of Türkiye took the first, second and third places in the competition of men, respectively.
The winner of the 1st place earned 3,000 Manats, while the winners of the 2nd and 3rd places were rewarded with 2,000 and 1,000 Manats respectively, as well as with presents, medals and certificates.
First 6 persons with physical disabilities who crossed the finish line were also rewarded.
Along with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, women and men participants on five age categories (30 to 39; 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 69; 70+) who had crossed the finish line were presented certificates.
All marathon participants and volunteers who have provided support in the organization of the marathon were presented certificates. 2000 participants who crossed the finish line were honoured with “Baku Marathon 2023” medals.
Participants, city residents and visitors participated in various entertaining programmes, competitions and interactive games in the entertainment zone created at the State Flag Square during the marathon, and listened to concert programmes.
The Baku Marathon aims at supporting sports’ development and promoting healthy lifestyle.
