Fun run celebrates Olympics

The Olympic movement will be celebrated with a fun run this Thursday at the Punanga Nui markets starting at 5pm.

This Thursdays is a fun and free event which is for the entire community and all Team Cook Islands athletes and officials must attend.

This will be the first opportunity for the general public to meet some of the athletes preparing to represent the country at the South Pacific Games in New Caledonia in August.

The annual Olympic Fun Run will also be held on the outer islands especially the southern group islands preparing for the Manea Games in October on the island of Mangaia.

Each southern group island will have live broadcasts of their fun run on Radio Cook Islands.

Athletes and the general public can walk, run or cycle the three courses on offer.

The event will start at the Punanga Nui Market with everyone taking the same course from the market to the old Avatiu netball courts and up to the Avatiu back road intersection.

Those just wanting a short and brisk walk or run can turn down the Ruatonga meeting house road for the 1km course. The 3km course continues to the intersection after Pickering Motors following the road that winds around the Telecom Cook Islands building and returning to the main road and back to the markets.

The 5km course continues past Tupa Store, down the road running past the Avarua Courthouse and back along Maire Nui Drive.

For the fitter athletes there is a longer course which runs from the market to the Avatiu back road turning right and heading to Nikao past Tereora College and returning to the main road via the Avatea School road and back to the markets.

Everyone is invited to get along for this fun and healthy event.