24-hour race begins in Naberezhnye Chelny

A mass race that will continue for 24 hours has begun in the city of Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan. The city should thus beat Russia’s national and then the world record. The marathon is meant to support the Universiade 2013 sporting event in Kazan.

The first to start in the relay race was the city’s mayor Ildar Khalikov, who handed the baton over to the Tatarstan Minister of Youth Affairs, Sports and Tourism Marat Bariev who had arrived from Kazan specifically to take part in the event. The third to accept the baton was the prominent athlete, Chelny-born Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova.

According to the city’s mayor, it is the first time he takes part in a world-standard event. “I am so proud that the people of Chelny are holding this event. It is very pleasing that this is happening in the Year of Sport and Healthy Lifestyle in Tatarstan.”

Unprecedented security measures were taken to ensure both public order and the marathon participants’s safety; 478 security officers involved. Two ambulance and 4 paramedical crews will be at standby at the stadium for the entire time.

Each of the participants is photographed and video taped around the clock. The photos and video are to be used to prove a record that will be sent to the London-based Guinnes Book of Records. In about 2-3 weeks, either an approval or a denial of the record should be received from London.

People with limited physical abilities, girls in wedding dresses, athletes and school students have already run the 100-metre distance. Each participant is given a certificate of participation in the marathon.

To set a record, the sportsmen will have to cover 100 metres in 20 seconds. Besides, if a person falls down but gets no injury, they will be able to continue the race and the record will be registered.

Tomorrow at 11 am, upon the marathon’s completion, the editor in chief of Book of Records Russia Alexei Svistunov is to pronounce whether or not Naberezhnye Chelny have set a record.