Summary
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- The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) has awarded Nepal’s Nepalgunj Marathon the ‘AIMS Social Award 2026’.
- At the 25th World Congress held in Tromsø, Norway, AIMS President Pako Borao presented the award to Nepalgunj Marathon founder T.S. Thakuri.
- Started in 2015 to commemorate the Comprehensive Peace Accord, Nepalgunj Marathon received the award for its contribution to social harmony, climate change awareness, and sports development.
June 19, Kathmandu – The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), a global organization of runners, has honored Nepal’s Nepalgunj Marathon with the ‘AIMS Social Award 2026’.
The award was presented during a special ceremony on the night of the 25th AIMS World Congress held in Tromsø, Norway. AIMS President Pako Borao handed the award to T.S. Thakuri, founder of the Nepalgunj Marathon.
Considered one of the most prestigious honors among global race organizers, the ‘AIMS Social Award’ is given to one recipient selected from the worldwide network of over 500 member race organizers affiliated with AIMS.
Most members gathered in Tromsø for the event. The 90-year-old Horst Milde, founder of the Berlin Marathon and AIMS co-founder, was also present. Expressing joy on receiving the award from such esteemed marathon organizers, T.S. Thakuri said,
“This feels like an unexpected achievement. I hope it will further promote the growth and prestige of marathons in Nepal. This honor is not only for the Nepalgunj Marathon but for the entire country, as it is AIMS’s only social award.”
Previous recipients of this award include the Great Ethiopian Run (Ethiopia) in 2013, Tokyo Marathon (Japan) in 2014, Marathon Internacional La La (Mexico) in 2015, Munich Marathon (Germany) in 2016, Marathon de las Flores Medellín (Colombia) in 2017, Belgrade Marathon (Serbia) in 2018, and Harmony Geneva Marathon for UNICEF (Switzerland) in 2019. After a brief hiatus, this award has been revived starting this year.
According to T.S. Thakuri, the Nepalgunj Marathon received the award due to its consistent organization, focus on various key themes, raising awareness about global issues such as climate change, and conducting athlete selection races for the Tokyo Olympics even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2015, the Nepalgunj Marathon has been held without interruption. Even during the COVID-19 period, it followed government-mandated protocols while facilitating athlete selections for the Tokyo Olympics.
The Nepalgunj Marathon started in 2015 (2072 BS) to commemorate the Comprehensive Peace Accord of December 2016 (2063 BS), symbolizing peace, harmony, and unity. Because Nepalgunj hosts a multiethnic and multireligious community, the marathon aims to promote social harmony. Around a dozen additional events are currently being conducted as part of this initiative.
To raise awareness and adaptation to climate change among children, events such as the Gaughat Green Run and the Rapti-Sonari Nature Run have been held continuously for two years.
To foster a sense of safety during nighttime, two editions of the Nepalgunj 10K Night Run have been organized. Additionally, the Kathmandu 25 km Heritage Race has been launched since last year to promote global Nepali heritage. The Karnali Half Marathon is also taking place in Karnali Province. Believing in the importance of dialogue for democracy, six editions of the Nepalgunj Discourse series have been completed.
Last year, alongside the AIMS Board meeting, the Nepal International Running Conference was held with representatives from 18 countries. Starting this year, the Kohalpur Mile and Kathmandu Mile are being introduced as part of the One Global Mile initiative. The continuous publication of Nepal Running Magazine is also contributing to the development of the running community.
