In the 101th Gazi Half Marathon, which was held this year for the 4st anniversary of Gaziantep's liberation from enemy occupation, with the cooperation of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Turkish Athletics Federation and Gaziantep Governorship, tens of thousands of Gaziantep residents as well as 702 athletes and 6 martyrs were proudly raced.
In order to keep alive the memory of 6 martyrs who were martyred in the Historical Antep Defense against the French invaders, and to increase the sports culture throughout the city with the aim of "Gaziantep a Sports City", the 317-kilometer Gazi Half Marathon and 21th Gazi Half Marathon, which was organized for the fourth time this year under the coordination of Gaziantep Governorship in partnership with Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and Turkish Athletics Federation, The Kilometer Road Race took place with the participation of professional athletes, disabled athletes and tens of thousands of Gazi citizens.
101 athletes, 25 of whom were national athletes, participated in the half marathon organized as part of the 702st anniversary of Gaziantep's Liberation. In addition to the Gazi Half Marathon and the 10 Kilometer Road Run, the 3-kilometer public walk created excitement throughout the city, and 14 Martyrs' Memorial Flag Run was held by Gaziantep Metropolitan Belediyespor athletes. While 10 athletes registered for the 586K race and 21 athletes and 344 athletes for the 930K races; 406 people took their place at the start line and ran in the marathon, 10 athletes at 296 kilometers and 21 athletes at 702 kilometers. 2 cyclists and 2 disabled athletes took their place at the start line in the marathon and started the run for the first time. Nearly 15 people joined the public march.
Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin and Gaziantep Governor Davut Gül and Turkish Athletics Federation Vice President Nihat Bağcı started the races.
PRESIDENT SAHIN: “WE ARE RUNNING SO THAT THE GAZIANTEP MODEL MUST BE THE WORLD MODEL.”
Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin, in her speech at the opening ceremony of the Gazi Races, stated that they realized this race to make the “Gaziantep Model” a world model, and continued as follows:
“We are in a very special marathon run. We are in the Gazi Run, named after Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. First of all, my condolences to our nation. We feel the pain in Bartın with all our heart. That's why we are running the Gazi Marathon silently today. We are running together for our youth, for the future of our country, for our independence, for our future. We are running together to reach the goal of Education city Gaziantep, Sports city Gaziantep, Science city Gaziantep. We commemorate the founder of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with respect and gratitude to all his friends, and we are running to make the second century the century of Turkey, under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to write the epic of the second century. May peace come to the whole world together in your run. We are running so that the Gaziantep model will become a world model.”
THE ENTERTAINMENT DIMENSION OF THE RUNS WAS REMOVED AND ADVANCED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF SPORTS
Gaziantep Governor Davut Gül, on the other hand, stated that the entertainment dimension was removed from the races due to what happened in Bartın, and that it continues with its sportive dimension and said, “Gazi Race has been going on for four years with your enthusiasm. This year, the entertainment dimension has been removed due to the event that we all have seen and experienced with deep sadness as a nation in Bartın, and the sportive dimension continues. Each of you has a significant contribution to make Gaziantep a sports city. Our teachers have a significant contribution. Our institutions and organizations, especially our metropolitan municipality, have significant contributions. Hopefully this tradition will continue. I would like to thank our Minister of Fatma and her team for their contribution to the efforts of national education, youth sports, each of our student brothers and teachers for their participation, and wish them good luck.” said.
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