North Korea Holds First Pyongyang International Marathon in Six Years
North Korea on Sunday held its first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years, hosting foreign runners in the reclusive country that has largely closed its borders since the pandemic.
Athletes from China, Romania and other countries visited to participate in the event, state media KCNA news agency and Rodong Sinmun reported on Sunday.
About 200 foreigners arrived on Friday and Saturday in Pyongyang where those running practiced at a hotel for the Sunday race, said Simon Cockerell, general manager at Beijing-based Koryo Tours, in Instagram posts showing streets and a recreational area in Pyongyang.
The Koryo Tours is an official partner of the Pyongyang Marathon, aiding the sign-up process for international competitors.
The isolated state sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but has been slowly lifting restrictions since 2023.
It has allowed Russian tourist groups into the country, but its capital remains closed to regular tourism.
The marathon is a return course running through central Pyongyang, passing major landmarks and heading out into the countryside before coming back through the city to a stadium filled with 50,000 spectators, Koryo Tours said.
At the stadium, a crowd of North Koreans - some wearing masks - greeted the runners, and foreign participants took pictures of the spectators with mobile phones, pictures posted by Cockerell showed. Local media have yet to announce the victor.
The Pyongyang International Marathon is one of several events held to celebrate the April 15 birthday of Kim Il Sung, North Korea's founder and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Chinese Travel More during Dragon Boat Holiday but Spending Lags
Chinese people travelled more over the three-day Dragon Boat holiday this year, but spending remained below pre-pandemic levels, government data showed on Tuesday - indicators that are closely watched as barometers of consumer confidence. Consumption in the world's second-largest economy has suffered amid sputtering growth and a prolonged property crisis, with uncertainty from the US-China trade war also weighing on consumer confidence. The latest data painted a mixed picture for China's consumer economy. Travelers took an estimated 119 million domestic journeys from Friday to Monday, up 5.7% from the same holiday period last year, according to the Ministry for Tourism and Culture. Overall spending over the period rose to 42.73 billion yuan ($5.94 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.9%, but the average amount spent per traveler was a little under 360 yuan ($50), according to Reuters calculations, remaining stubbornly below 2019 levels of around 410 yuan per trip. The Dragon Boat Festival took place from May 31 to June 2 - and is celebrated throughout the country with local dragon boat races. Many people take the opportunity to have short holidays, crowding train stations and airports around the country. Cross-border journeys rose 2.7% to 5.9 million, with 231,000 foreign nationals entering the country visa-free during the holiday, broadcaster CCTV said late on Monday. China has been expanding its visa policy, with citizens of 43 countries granted visa-free access, while visa-free transit for up to 240 hours in China is available for 54 countries. Rail lines saw the peak of return passenger flow on June 2, with authorities adding 1,279 trains to more than 11,000 passenger trains overall across the country, while road travel was up 3% year-on-year, with 600 million car journeys recorded, mostly travelling short distances. Chinese also boosted spending on entertainment over the holiday, with cinema box office revenue reaching 460 million yuan ($63.9 million), surpassing last year's 384 million yuan, according to data from online ticketing platform Maoyan. Tom Cruise's latest movie "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" topped charts, and generated 228 million yuan, half of the total revenue during the holiday period, which was seen as a positive indicator for the upcoming summer season.
Saudi Gazette
30-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Al Ittihad end six-year wait to reclaim King's Cup crown
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Al Ittihad brought the King's Cup back to their trophy cabinet for the first time since 2018 with a 3-1 win over Al Qadsiah on Friday night at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, in front of a packed stadium led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who presented the cup to team captain Karim Benzema. The victory secured Ittihad's 10th title in the competition's history, reaffirming their legacy in one of Saudi football's most prestigious tournaments. It marked a triumphant return to form for the Jeddah-based club, which had endured a six-year drought marked by managerial instability and fluctuating form. Founded in 1927, Ittihad has been intertwined with the history of the King's Cup, winning its first title in 1958. Through eras of dominance and reinvention, the club has consistently remained a powerhouse, from its golden run in the 1990s to this current resurgence under head coach Laurent year's campaign culminated in a powerful final performance, with the squad — featuring global stars like Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kanté, and Moussa Diaby — showing cohesion, composure, and who took over at the start of the season, crafted a balanced squad that blended veteran leadership with youthful atmosphere in Jeddah was electric as tens of thousands filled the stands, with Al Ittihad fans providing deafening support chants echoed as the team lifted the cup in a sea of black and yellow, marking a night to remember for the Tigers title follows Ittihad's Saudi Pro League triumph earlier in the season and sets the stage for another ambitious campaign — both domestically and on the continental stage — with the club eyeing further silverware and a return to its dominant best.
Saudi Gazette
30-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Crown Prince awards King's Cup to Al Ittihad after 3-1 victory over Al Qadsiah
Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presented Al Ittihad with the King's Cup trophy on Friday night following their 3-1 win over Al Qadsiah in the final at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. In front of a packed crowd of 60,000, Al Ittihad secured their second trophy of the season with a dominant performance, led by French captain Karim Benzema, who scored twice on the night. Benzema opened the scoring in the 34th minute before midfielder Houssem Aouar added a second just nine minutes later. Benzema struck again in stoppage time to put the match beyond doubt. Al Qadsiah managed a consolation goal through a penalty converted by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in first-half added time. Al Qadsiah's hopes of a comeback faded late in the match when Argentine midfielder Ezequiel Fernández was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. The victory marks Al Ittihad's 10th King's Cup title overall and their sixth under the updated official count of domestic competitions. It also caps a remarkable season for the Jeddah-based club, who earlier clinched the Saudi Pro League title ahead of rivals Al Hilal. The win cements Al Ittihad's dominance in domestic football this season, with Benzema's leadership and goalscoring proving pivotal in both title runs.
