On May 13, Baku Marathon–2018 took place following the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s initiative. Vice-president of the Foundation Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva too participated in the marathon.

Starting from the State Flag Square, the marathon covered a 21km long route, ending at the Baku Olympic Stadium.

Held under the slogan “Win the Wind”, the Baku marathon is arranged for the third time, in a consecutive order. Some 18,000 people were registered for this year’s marathon.

Citizens from regions of Azerbaijan - Ganja, Sumgait, Mingachevir, Guba, Gusar, Lankaran, Astara, Nakhchivan, Gabala, Shamakhy, Zagatala, Sheki, Oghuz and other districts participated in the Baku marathon. Along with Azerbaijani citizens, representatives of such countries as Italy, France, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Great Britain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, USA, China, Malaysia, India, Japan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Colombia, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Czech Republic etc. joined the competition.

Representatives of the embassies of Italy, Russia, Turkey, China, Malaysia, India, Japan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Colombia, UAE and Latvia in Azerbaijan too participated in the marathon.

Igor Olefirenko, a citizen of Ukraine, took the 1^st place among men, with Mahammad Jafar Muradi from Iran being the 2^nd, while Turkish citizen Omar Alkanoghlu arrived 3^rd. Among women, Chelik Fadima from Turkey reached the finish line 1^st, while Valentina Poltavska from Ukraine was the 2^nd, with Anastasia Petrova being the 3^rd on the finish line.

The rewarding ceremony took place at the Baku Olympic Stadium. The winners of both the categories – men and women – were rewarded with money awards in the amount of 3 thousand, 2 thousand and 1 thousand for the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd places accordingly, and medals.

The Baku Marathon is organized with the objective of supporting sports’ advancement, promote healthy lifestyle, and bring people together for benevolent purposes.

The funds collected from the Baku Marathon-2018 will be directed to the project of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation associated with children deprived of parental protection.