Visakhapatnam: 

The city of destiny has indeed another feather in its cap as it has been confirmed that the 5-km Olympic Day Run organised by Visakhapatnam District Olympic Association (VDOA) in Vizag on June 23 is a Guinness record with the participation of 86,549 people.

Vizag beat Washington District, Colombia of United States in its bid to enter the Guinness World Records with the largest Olympic Day Run ever.

VDOA president T. Harsha Vardhan Prasad, on Sunday, announced that the authorities of the Guinness World Records confirmed that the 5-km run organised by them has set a record in the maximum number of participants category.

He said that they have received the certificate from the authorities and that it was handed over to minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, the chairman of the 5-km run, here on Sunday.

Prasad said that they beat the previous record of 85,976 people, who took part in 5-km Olympic Day Run at Washington in 1988.

Speaking on the occasion, minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said Vizag will be hosting many such events in the future as well and that the city will emerge as a sports hub in the region.

He said participants of the 5K-run can get a certificate in their name from the Guinness World Records if more than 10,000 people are ready to pay Rs 300 each to VDOA.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / August 19th, 2013