2006 General Release
Contact:
Ketan Tamm 1 646 251 4120
Homagni Baptista 1 646 262 4120
caribbean [ at ] worldharmonyrun [dot] org
INTERNATIONAL RUN FOR WORLD HARMONY TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN, GUYANA AND SURINAME
The World Harmony Run an Olympic-style torch relay promoting international friendship and goodwill will be traveling throughout the Caribbean, Guyana and Suriname between May 19th and June 13th this year. Worldwide, the Run will be covering over 40,000 km/25,000 miles through more than 80 countries around the globe.
Passing a flaming torch from hand to hand, a team of runners will visit 9 countries in the region with events in St. Thomas (May 19), Barbados (May 21, 22), Guyana (May 24, 25), Suriname (May 27, 28), Trinidad and Tobago (May 30), St Vincent (June 1), St Lucia (June 2), Puerto Rico (June 4 - 6), Antigua and Barbuda (June 7), St. Kitts & Nevis (June 9) and Grenada (June 12/13). The global relay includes simultaneous events throughout North, Central and South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and a 45-nation continuous run through Europe. An American team started in New York to run 11,000 miles through all lower 48 states.
During their journey, runners will stop at local schools, sharing the ideals of international friendship and brotherhood. The Run will also meet community groups along the route to recognize their activities that promote goodwill at grassroots levels.
The Run has been held 10 times since 1987 and has involved more than 5 million people. It has been endorsed by many of the world's leaders such as Pope John Paul II, Presidents Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev, the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Muhammad Ali and many others.
Sri Chinmoy, founder of the World Harmony Run, is an athlete, philosopher and humanitarian who believes that sport is a powerful instrument for promoting global harmony. "May each and every individual each day have a new dream of world harmony," said Sri Chinmoy.
Special thanks to LIAT AIRLINES for making this journey possible