Press Release No. L/48/00
2 November 2000

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services) – New course records were set by Olympian Masako Chiba and Thailand’s Boonchu Chantadaecha at the 18^th Annual UN Day 10 Km International Run held on 29 October 2000. Ms. Chiba, who finished 5^th in the Atlanta Olympics 10,000 Metre Track Race, finished with a new women’s best time of 34:49 minutes. Mr. Chantadaecha set a new men’s record with a time of 30:28 minutes.

All proceeds from the UN Day Run have been donated by the organizers to Thai charities, particularly those devoted to helping people with disabilities, especially children. These include: Pakkred Home for Children with Disabilities (100,000 Baht), Outward Bound Thailand (55,000 Baht), and the Special Olympics Thailand (50,000 Baht).

Over 7,000 men, women and children completed in the annual run organized to celebrate United Nations Day, 24 October 2000. The Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Mr. Kim Hak-Su, started this year’s race and awarded trophies to the winners.

The event attracts the largest number of athletes, both local and foreign, of any annual road race in Thailand. The UN Day Run encourages person with disabilities to participate in the event and attracts wheelchair athletes, blind runners, etc. Over 15 nationalities were represented this year.

A special "Marafun for Kids" was also organized with the kind permission of the Royal Thai Army and held at the Royal Thai Military Headquarters adjacent to the UN Building. Over 150 children under the age of 12 competed.

The UN Day Run was jointly organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and World Actions Co., Ltd. The main sponsor this year was NIKE (Thailand) Ltd.

The top five runners in each category of the 18^th Annual UN Day 10 KM International Run were: