32,000 run Delhi Marathon amid smog concerns

November 19, 2017 09:57

Amid concerns and warnings from the Indian Medical Association earlier this month over escalating level of toxic smog in the national capital, the Delhi Half Marathon was organised today with about 35,000 participants from across the world. The run was flagged off by Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

The IMA had urged the court to call off the marathon following a jump in pollution levels since November 6, which doctors had termed as a health emergency. The doctors had asked to the people not to venture outdoors without any pressing need. The Delhi government likened the city to a "gas chamber".

But the organisers of the Half Marathon had said that they would go ahead with the event despite warnings that the marathon could harm the health of the runners. Then on Thursday, the Delhi High Court gave a green signal to the marathon as pollution levels showed a slight drop.

International elite athletes, including world champion marathoner Geoffrey Kirui and 10,000m Olympic gold medallist Almaz Ayana had brushed aside concerns of pollution and said they will run the Delhi Half Marathon which made its debut in 2005.

On the eve of the marathon, the pollution levels in the city rose slightly after a small dip due to light showers a day before. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded the air quality index of Delhi-NCR at 301 and 308 in Delhi at 7 pm on Saturday. The air quality is expected to remain "very poor" for at least the next three days.

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