On 29 May 2011, Mr. Maris Sangiampongsa, Thai Ambassador to Nepal, was invited as chief guest to present the awards to the winners of the 9th Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon at Namche Bazzar, Nepal. 110 athletes - 45 Nepalese and 65 foreigners - participated in this marathon event, which started from Everest Base camp located at an altitude of 5,356m and finished at Namche Bazaar at an altitude of 3,446 meters, covering a total distance of 42.195 kms.
After the award presentation ceremony, Ambassador Maris, together with the event organizers, held a press conference to announce the organization of the marathon event named “Buddhist Circuits Marathon”, held next year in Lumbini, Nepal, whereby the race will begin from the Royal Thai Monastery via significant places that the Lord Buddha had visited and end at Mayadevi Temple, the birthplace of the Lord Buddha. This event is organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Nepal, in cooperation with the Royal Thai Monastery in Lumbini and the Nepali private sectors. Many participants, both Buddhists and interested people from around the world, are expected to join in the event.
To note, Tenzing-Hillary Everest Marathon has been annually organized on 29 May of each year since 2003 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the first successful ascent of Mt. Everest by the Late Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953. For this year, a Nepali athlete named Sudip Kulung became the first winner in the male category after having clocked 3 hours 45 minutes 49 seconds, while Sylvia Zaskowiee from Poland was the first female to become a winner in the foreign category after having clocked 5 hours 34 minutes 6 seconds.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th