Ankara hosts inaugural 1920 Running Race

The Turkish capital is set to host the first-ever 1920 Running Race on Sunday, an event that has generated significant enthusiasm among sports enthusiasts and institutional teams alike. Organized as part of Anadolu's 106th anniversary celebrations, the race has attracted participation from a diverse range of institutions across the country.

Registered teams include Anadolu, Aselsan, the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy, Ankara Masters Athletics Sports Club, Gazi Running, Bursa Osmangazi Belediyespor, and Hacettepe. A total of 256 athletes will take to the course, representing their respective institutions both individually and as part of team competitions.

Race course passes by Anitkabir

The 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) race is scheduled to start at 10:00 am local time (0700GMT) in front of Anadolu's headquarters. The route will take runners around Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and first president of the Republic of Türkiye, before finishing at the starting point. The event will be broadcast live on national broadcaster TRT Spor Yildiz.

Strong sponsorship and age category prizes

The race has received sponsorship support from Gokturk Holding, Ankara's Kecioren Municipality, Trendyol, Kizilay Natural Mineral Water, Kizilay Sparkling Mineral Water, Mixmey, Nuh'un Ankara Makarnasi, and Acibadem Healthcare Group, with Yesilay serving as a social responsibility partner.

In addition to the general classification, the race includes age categories for participants ranging from 35-39 up to 70 and above. First-place winners in the men's and women's general categories will receive 100,000 Turkish liras ($2,255) each, while top finishers in each age group will be awarded 15,000 Turkish liras ($337). The event has drawn registrations from across many Turkish provinces as well as international athletes.