UNRWA Gaza Marathon 2011

It just shows that Gaza could be a normal place if it got the chance: “The games help us to reach our aims and achieve our dreams.” says children voice

On May 6, around 1,500 professional and amateur runners participated in the first-ever Gaza Marathon, to raise funds for local Olympic participation.

School children ran relays along the route from the northern Gaza Strip to its southern end, while adults and the professional athletes ran the full marathon and shorter distances.

Hamas police escorted the foreign runners and activists who participated, however the whole event ran smoothly and peacefully (see Al Jazeera report below).
http://storyful.com/EdibleRice/1000003239-gaza-holds-its-first-marathon about it and more we can read here thru these links: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13298231
Gaza marathon – in pictures http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2011/may/05/gaza-marathon-in-pictures?CMP=twt_gu

Breathless in Gaza: Marathon finds unlikely home
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ATH_GAZA_MARATHON?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-05-05-14-44-16