WATCH: Over 1,000 children run in marathon 'toward bright future'

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Over 1,000 children on Saturday participated in a two-kilometer marathon organized under the title “Toward a bright future.”

The marathon took place at the Sami Abdulrahman Park in Erbil.

The age of the runners was between 6-13, and they came from different cities in the Kurdistan Region to participate in the event.

“Those who took part in the marathon are aged below 13,” Abdulsattar Younus, head of Erbil Marathon Organization for Sport and Peace, told Kurdistan 24 on Saturday.

“The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugee children also participated in the marathon in cooperation with UNICEF,” Younus added.

The children were delighted for the event and expressed their happiness during the marathon.

“We are very pleased about the marathon. We hope this event will be held every year,” Sara Ali, one of the participants of the marathon, told Kurdistan 24.

The event was organized by staff from the Erbil International Marathon.

The staff members are also planning to hold their annual 42-kilometer marathon in Erbil in October 2017.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

(Darbaz Ahmed contributed to this report)