In the village of Paris in the Nagaybaksky District, the traditional half marathon took place for the seventh time. More than 2,000 athletes and over 5,000 guests from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus arrived in the South Urals. The participants tackled 8 different distances and crossed the finish line to the loud applause of the spectators. Our photojournalist, Julia Borovikova, was also present at the event. Details can be found in the report.
The opening ceremony of the Paris Half Marathon–2024 was attended by Governor Alexey Texler and Olympic champion, Yuri Borzakovskiy, who is the sports director of the All-Russian Athletics Federation. The region's governor welcomed guests from 36 regions of our country, as well as athletes and their families from friendly nations. As Alexey Texler noted, such sporting events not only promote the South Urals region but also further instill a love for sports.
"I am glad that we have so many friends with us; we are one big sports family. I wish everyone new sports achievements, new achievements in life. We will continue to gather here, in Paris, and beyond," emphasized the governor.
According to Yuri Borzakovskiy, all participants thoroughly enjoyed the chosen distances. "At the Paris Half Marathon, there is a huge number of athletes. I felt that there was no nervousness. You run and enjoy," emphasized the champion.
The founder of the Paris Half Marathon, Svetlana Mamedalina, thanked the governor for his personal contribution to the development of this sporting event on behalf of all residents of the Nagaybaksky District. As soon as all the participants reached the starting point, Alexey Texler awarded the winners. The longest route covered a distance of 21.1 kilometers.
Venyamin Kanybekov from Ufa showed the best result. He completed the chosen distance in 1 hour 7 minutes 26 seconds. Nikita Pavlov from Magnitogorsk finished just behind him, with a time of 1 hour 7 minutes 49 seconds. The third place went to Alexey Patrakov from the Perm Region, with a time of 1 hour 8 minutes 10 seconds.
Among women, the best result was shown by Alexandra Morozova from Yekaterinburg. She reached the starting point in 1 hour 16 minutes 8 seconds. Following her were Elena Sedova from Novosibirsk and Antonina Yushina from the village of Uvelskoye. Their results were 1 hour 17 minutes 41 seconds and 1 hour 18 minutes 2 seconds, respectively.
After the opening ceremony, Alexey Texler also took part in the "Paris Mile" race. He was accompanied by Yuri Borzakovskiy, Olympic medalist Olga Fatkulina, European boxing champion Edmond Khudoyan, and many others.
In addition to the sports competitions, several entertainment areas were organized for the guests. During the race, people could make handmade postcards, create posters to support the participants, buy souvenirs, and take photos. The main attraction of the village – a miniature copy of the Eiffel Tower – became a point of attraction for lovers. A marriage registration area was set up nearby. Four couples took the opportunity to exchange rings in this picturesque location.
"The event is part of the Year of the Family, declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin," reminded the regional authorities.
This year, an autograph session with the winners of the Gagarin Cup of the 2023/2024 KHL season is also taking place in Paris. The hockey players from the Magnitogorsk "Metallurg" team, Danil Gololobov, Roman Kanzerov, and Egor Korobkin, are participating in the event. At the same time, a fair of craftsmen and decorative arts masters was organized. A tent with souvenirs made by the best craftsmen of the Southern Urals unfolded near the museum. There was also a food court offering traditional Nagaybak dishes, shish kebabs, pilaf, and other snacks.
The governor of the region also handed out awards to the winners of the All-Russian competition "You in the Game." The residents themselves can support and help this participant get closer to winning one million rubles.
The weather was favorable for the athletes this year. In 2023, the participants of the half marathon had to run
