Around 200 buses will be made available for marathon participants to transport them from Raipur to the Half-Marathon venue Shaheed Veernarayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur on February 2.
Nearly 100 city buses and 100 buses acquired from schools and colleges will be stationed at Netaji Subhash Stadium, Khel Bhawan and Railway Station in the city for the marathon runnerson Sunday, said senior sports officer Rajendra Dekate. The buses will leave for Naya Raipur between 6 and 7 am. “We will also send buses to around 35 schools and colleges from where we have received registrations in large numbers,” said Dekate.
A 21-km long Vijay Diwas Half-Marathon is being organised by Sports and Youth Welfare Department on February 2 from 8 am. So far, over 8,000 people have registered for the marathon from schools, colleges and open registration centres from in the state. Participants from 12 to 75 years can take part in the half-marathon under different categories. A two-km wheelchair race will also be organised for specially-abled people.
Nearly 150 physical education teachers will supervise the marathon. NCC cadets will also provide their services for the event. Drinking water will be made available at a distance of every one kilometre. Relaxing zones for runners will also be set up at regular intervals after the marathon. To avoid any untoward incident or severe injuries, ambulances will be stationed at a distance of every two kilometres. A team of doctors from District Hospital will also be present during the marathon, said Dekate. Besides runners, nobody will be allowed on the track in Naya Raipur on Sunday.
Sudha Singh, Kavita Raut to join
Participant in 2012 Olympic Games Sudha Singh and bronze medal winner in 2010 Commonwealth Games Kavita Raut will participate in the half-marathon to be held in Naya Raipur on February 2, said Director, Sports Jitendra Shukla. They will come to the state capital from UP and Maharashtra respectively.