NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The Bahamas will host for the first time ever, a portion of the World Harmony Run, bringing together youth, sports and civic groups in a display of unity for peace.
According to its website, the World Harmony Run is a global relay that seeks to promote international friendship and understanding.
As a symbol of harmony, runners carry a flaming torch, passing it from hand to hand travelling over 100 nations around the globe.
The World Harmony Run’s website added that it does not seek to raise money or highlight any political cause, but simply strives to create goodwill among peoples of all nations.
The Department of Sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture announced that the event will begin with a presentation of the torch to the Governor-General of The Bahamas His Excellency Arthur D Hanna, at Government House on February 16, 2010.
The entire Bahamas leg of World Harmony Run will also be under His Excellency’s patronage.
On Wednesday, February 17, 2010, World Harmony Torch Committee members and Bahamian stakeholders will visit schools on New Providence and have special assemblies highlighting the importance of peaces and conflict resolution.
On Thursday, February 18, 2010, the torch travels to Grand Bahama for a torch run and ceremonies there. Also that day, there will be celebrations at The College of The Bahamas scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
On Friday, February 19, 2010, the torch travels to Exuma for torch run and harmony ceremonies, while a special assembly is slated for Temple Christian’s Track and Field Meet at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre.
On Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 9 a.m., the New Providence Torch Run begins and ends with a cultural display and rally at Arawak Cay.
The New Providence Torch Run will be 24 miles long and will bring together government and private schools, police cadets, Defence Force officers, and civic stakeholders.
The route will be as follows: Airport Round- a-bout, travelling east onto John F. Kennedy Drive, east onto Tonique Darling Highway, continuing east along the Independence High Way, north onto East Street, east onto Robinson Road and north onto Marathon Road.
The run will then travel west onto Wulff Road, north onto East Street, west onto Shirley Street, north onto Baillou Hill Road, and west onto West Bay Street, where it will continue west to the entrance of the Arawak Cay Fish Fry and onto the Cultural Site there.
Before arriving at Arawak Cay Fish Fry, runners will be joined by the Special Olympics Council for Disabled Athletes, Ministers and Cabinet Ministers, school principals, presidents of sporting federations and the general public for a march of unity, leaving from the area near the Flowers Building on West Bay Street.
