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THANK YOU AMRITSAR for The Run for Amritsar/Citizens Walk
Hundreds, led by Fauja Singh take part in Amritsar `Run for the City’ and Citizen Walk, ahead of city's first Marathon
Amritsar, January 22, 2012
Hundreds of residents including school children and senior citizens were today led by `Pride of Punjab' Fauja Singh, a 100 year old renowned athlete, today took part in the `Run for the City’ and `Citizen Walk’, organized here ahead of first-ever `The Gold City Marathon Amritsar-2012’ (TGCMA). The Run and finally the Marathon, is aimed to create awareness about the cultural, historical and heritage significance of the `holy city’.
Fauja Singh, Punjabi iconic runner with a flowing beard led the enthusiastic civil society members, NGOs, educational institutions, corporate houses and servicemen staking part in the program. He said on the occasion that youth should shun the drugs, take a healthy food and exercise daily to stay fit and fine. The Run and the Walk took the 5.36km round route, around the Golden Temple complex in the walled city to the
amusement of many.
The school children and residents old and young together, carrying the play cards with slogans to keep the city clean and green, shunning the drugs were the highlight of the movement. Mr. Gunbir Singh,
Chairperson, World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature, who is heading Amritsar Tourism Outreach (ATO) and Dilbir Foundation, which organized the event said that Fauja Singh was the right person to have lead the race that showcased the city of Amritsar.
He called upon the citizens to adopt the `Amritsar-My City, My Pride, My Responsibility’ charter and work tirelessly day and night to keep the city clean, green and safe. He said Amritsar city attract thousands of
devotees, pilgrims and tourists daily but they are disappointed over the lack of tourism infrastructure in the city. ``We want to create an awareness and a sense of belonging amongst the residents. We want to
make this event an annual affair and this is a humble beginning for the Marathon run to be organized in the end of the year’’, said Mr.Gunbir Singh.
Captain Ajay, the Chief Executive Officer of the Event today alongwith Mr. Gunbir Singh read out the charter of the ‘Marathon Year’. Deputy Commissioner Mr. Rajat Aggarwal, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Mr. Dharmpal Gupta, Group Commander RS Bath (NCC) were present during flagging off the Run and Walk which was inaugurated by one of the seniormost citizens of the city eye surgeon Dr. Ranbir Singh.
Mr. Gunbir Singh added that a series of programs were being planned for this whole `Marathon year’ and they intend to involve general public in the run and that is why the students and citizens are invited to take part in the program. He said the event also highlighted city’s specific problems including traffic congestion,
encroachments, in sanitary conditions and the need to make the city beautiful.
The contingents from Bhatia hospital led by Dr. JPS Bhatia displayed the banners and slogans against the rising menace of drugs addiction. The children from Khalsa College educational institutions, Springdale
and many other schools participated in the event today. A colourful services band kick started the program. The winners of the Run were awarded honours and certificates.
`The program will bring the city on global sporting map and will work towards creating issue based social awareness too” said Gunbir Singh
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Fauja Singh to lead the Walk
‘The Gold City Marathon Amritsar-2012’
‘Run for the City’ on Jan 22
Amritsar, January17, 2012
The `holy city’ is all set to host the first-ever ‘The Gold City Marathon Amritsar-2012’ (TGCMA) in December and an advance `Run for the City’ and Citizens Walk is being organized on January 22 to kick start the year-long programs for the ‘great run’. The Marathon is aimed to highlight city’s cultural, historical and heritage importance.
  
‘Pride of Punjab’ Fauja Singh will lead the Walk which will have various civil society members, NGOs, educational institutions, corporate houses will be taking part in the Walk, which would take a route around Golden Temple complex in the walled city. Mr. Gunbir Singh, Chairperson, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), who is the brain behind the maiden move, said that the `holy city’ is blessed with much tourism potential and its mainstay is The Golden Temple.
“Thus this holistic, annual activity is being planned for augmenting this potential. We have set up Amritsar Tourism Outreach (ATO) for the purpose and we plan to have city’s first marathon run by the year-end”, said he. The motto of the run, he said will be ‘Amritsar- My city', My Pride, My Responsibility' and its primary motive is to make the general public aware of making the city beautiful and clean. Mr. Gunbir Singh added that a series of programs were being planned for this whole `Marathon year’ and they intend to involve general public and every citizen of any age or group to take an active part in the run.
“The ATO is launching its Citizens Walk & Run for Amritsar next week on January 22, with which we will flag off a series of the programs for the Marathon Run at the end of this year. The students and local citizens are invited to take part in the program’, he said adding that they would like to highlight the city’s specific problems including traffic congestion, encroachments, insanitary conditions and need to make city beautiful and green”, said he.
He said they were happy that great runner of Punjab Fauja Singh has shown interest in the city’s first Marathon, would be coming to flag off the walk and run this Sunday morning. `We will pay obeisance at the Golden Temple a day before the Walk starts. The Route will be from historic Kotwali City Centre (Town Hall) and go throughout the city’s inner areas. He said winners of the Run would be awarded the honours and certificates. He added that the program will not only highlight the tourism potential of the city but will also instil a sense of pride and responsibility of all of us in the city’s cleanliness and development. “The program will bring the city on global sporting map and will create issue based social awareness too” said he.
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