FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The First International Iraqi Marathon for Peace and Nonviolence in Erbil
and the Iraq Civil Society Solidarity Initiative Conference
October 7-9, 2011
Press Release - July 12, 2011 Hundreds of Iraqi and international runners
will compete in a marathon in the historical city of Erbil, Iraq on October
7, 2011, to send the world a message "Let's Run for Peace and Nonviolence."
We want to deliver a message to the world that Iraqi people are striving to
live without violence says marathon planning committee members from Erbil.
Building peace through sports is an international initiative implemented in
dozens of countries around the world for adults, youth, women, and
individuals of varying skills. The First International Iraqi Marathon for
Peace and Nonviolence in Erbil will host running events for families, the
handicapped, youth, women, and professional runners. Each person will be
able to participate in a section of the marathon.
Runners can sign up individually or in teams, representing NGOs, Government
Ministries, Youth Clubs, Student and Workers Unions and any other informal
group, to compete in one of the three races (2 km, 10 km, 21km and 42 km)
where many prizes will be offered for the winners.
We believe that sport is a vehicle for connecting people all over the world
says Nicola Visconti the Erbil Marathon co-organizer from Sport Against
Violence in Rome, Italy who already has recruited 37 runners to travel from
Rome to Erbil for the race.
Following the marathon, civil society activists from all over the world
will convene in Erbil for the International Conference of the Iraqi Civil
Society Solidarity Initiative (October 8-9, 2011), building bridges of
solidarity and cooperation with Iraqi social movements who are working to
build a democratic Iraq, with respect of human rights and fundamental
freedoms.
The First International Iraqi Marathon for Peace and Nonviolence in Erbil
and the ICSSI Conference are part of the Iraqi Week of Nonviolence, a
week-long series of national activities sponsored by Iraqi NGOs of the
Iraqi Non-Violence Network (Laonf) including the Al-Mesalla, Kurdistan
Youth Organization (KEYO) and the Iraqi Kurdistan NGO Network (IKNN).
Please join us for these two very important international events in
October! Check out our website to register, donate, and start your travel
arrangements.
http://www.iraqicivilsociety.org/
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