RENUKA RAI
Thimphu
A Fun-Run to celebrate the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games was held on Thursday, April 3, in Thimphu.
The event took place under the watchful gaze of the majestic Buddha Dordenma statue, one of the world’s largest sitting Buddhas, which stands at a towering height of 177 feet and overlooks the sprawling Thimphu Valley.
Set at an altitude of 2,650 meters, this serene and awe-inspiring location served as the perfect backdrop for the launch of this unique initiative aimed at promoting the spirit of the Asian Games across the continent.
This fun run, which drew 250 enthusiastic students from various schools in Thimphu and several delegates from National Olympic Committees (NOCs) attending the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Regional Forum, marked the beginning of a larger campaign to promote the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, set to take place in 2026.
The event’s significance was not only in the physical challenge it posed to the participants but also in the cultural and spiritual message it conveyed. The run was framed as a celebration of community, physical well-being, and the Olympic values of unity, friendship, and respect.
The course itself was a challenging 2.5 kilometers uphill, which made the run especially grueling for participants, who had to tackle the steep incline as they made their way toward the iconic Buddha Dordenma statue.
Despite the short distance, the participants, including both young students and international delegates, found themselves testing their endurance to the limit. For many, the physical difficulty of the course was matched by the thrill of running in such a picturesque and spiritually significant setting.
At 8 a.m., OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari officially flagged off the race, and within minutes, participants were making their way up the challenging route. The event was not about speed but about participation, camaraderie, and the shared experience of running for a cause larger than the race itself.
Among those participating in the fun run was Jeans Zhou Jian, the OCA Director of Media and Broadcast, who shared his thoughts on the race. He said: “I have participated in every fun run over the last three Asian Games, but this was easily the most challenging one. It was only two-and-a-half kilometers, but the energy expended made it feel like a 10-kilometer race.”
The first runner to cross the finish line was Pema Dherdup, a 19-year-old athlete from Bhutan, who completed the uphill course in just 12 minutes. Dherdup, who had represented Bhutan in the 3,000-meter event at the Asian Athletics Championships in Dubai the previous year, shared his excitement about the event and its significance in raising awareness for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
“This race was all about creating awareness for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games next year, and I hope I can one day represent Bhutan at this prestigious event,” Dherdup remarked after finishing the run. His aspirations reflect the growing enthusiasm in Bhutan for the Games, despite the country’s relatively modest representation at the event. Bhutan will compete in only three sports—archery, boxing, and shooting—at the 2026 Games.
The first female to cross the finish line was 15-year-old Chimmi Pelden, who completed the 2.5-kilometer course in 19 minutes and 11 seconds. Pelden, like many others, expressed her pride in participating in such a meaningful event.
For many of the schoolchildren involved, the run was not just an athletic challenge, but an opportunity to engage with a larger global event and learn about the values of sportsmanship and unity that the Asian Games embody.
The event was also marked by the participation of several international figures, such as Edward Kensington, Head of Universality for Olympic Solidarity, who also took part in the uphill race.
Kensington, who participated at a slower pace, noting that he “walked, didn’t run,” emphasized the importance of supporting the Bhutan Olympic Committee’s efforts to promote the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. “We are all here to support the Bhutan Olympic Committee and their efforts to promote the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games,” he said, pointing to the broader international support for Bhutan’s role in the Games.
The Fun Run is part of the larger “Asian Games for All” campaign launched by the OCA, which aims to raise awareness and encourage inclusivity around the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The campaign is designed to make the Games more accessible and engaging for people from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender, or athletic ability.
Through events like the fun run, the OCA hopes to foster a greater sense of community and encourage widespread participation in sports across Asia. As part of this campaign, the fun run will be held in up to 30 different countries and regions in the lead-up to the Games in 2026.
Wissam Trkmani, the OCA Director of Development and NOC Relations, who also participated in the run, remarked on the special nature of the event in Bhutan. “This run is very special. It felt like the spirit of Olympic values was embodied in this place,” Trkmani said. His comment captured the essence of the event, where sports and cultural values converged to create a sense of unity and shared experience among the participants.
Beyond the race itself, the event also highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Bhutan. The participants were able to enjoy not only the physical challenge of the run but also the spiritual significance of the Buddha Dordenma statue and the surrounding natural beauty. The majestic statue, which symbolizes peace and prosperity, added a profound layer of meaning to the run, reminding everyone of the importance of harmony, peace, and collective effort.
As the event concluded and participants made their way back to their classrooms, there was a palpable sense of excitement and pride in the air. The Fun Run in Bhutan marked a fitting beginning to the campaign promoting the 2026 Asian Games, with hopes that it will inspire more people across Asia to engage with the Games in their communities.
With more fun runs planned in other countries in the coming months, the momentum for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games is set to grow, as communities across Asia come together to celebrate the universal values of sport, culture, and friendship.
The spirit of the Games is alive and well, and Thimphu has played a memorable role in kicking off this exciting journey.
