Baku Marathon 2016 must be held annually, third winner says

The Baku Marathon 2016 must become a tradition and be held every year, said Tural Sadigli, third winner of the competition.

"I am very pleased that I have been well-prepared for the competition," Sadigli, 25-year-old participant, told Trend May 1. "I would like to express my gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation for organizing such an event."

"I have been working in the physical education center of the Azerbaijani ministry of education, but despite this, it was very difficult to compete," he said. "I knew that it is necessary to increase the pace gradually and this helped me to rank third."

"I failed to rank first but I will try to succeed next time," he added.

Namiq Asadov won the Baku Marathon 2016, while Giorgi Damenia ranked second and Tural Sadigov ranked third.

The Baku Marathon 2016, organized at the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, kicked off May 1.

The course of the marathon covers a distance of 21 kilometers from its start point at the Flag Square to the finish line at the Baku Olympic Stadium.

The marathon started at 10:00 (UTC/GMT +4 hours). It will take a maximum of four hours and a half to overcome a 21 kilometer-distance.

The event's main goal is to assist the development of sports in Azerbaijan, promote healthy lifestyle, especially, among the youth, and bring them together for a good cause.

The funds to be received from the Baku Marathon 2016 will be spent on the Heydar Aliyev Foundation's project for the children deprived of parental care.