The Belau Omal Marathon is an annual marathon in
Palau. The inaugural edition of the race was held on 4 June 2023.
History
As a program to stimulate tourism and strengthen
Palau–Taiwan relations
Palau–Taiwan relations are the bilateral relations between Palau and Taiwan. Palau maintains an embassy in Taipei and Taiwan (officially the Republic of China or ROC) maintains an embassy in Koror City. Exchanges between the two nations range fro ...
, coordination and preparation for the Belau Omal Marathon began in 2019. Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the event was delayed until 2023. In February 2023, Palauan officials visited
Kinmen to observe its 23rd marathon event. Taiwanese deputy foreign minister
Roy Chun Lee announced in
Taipei that
Taiwan and
Palau were jointly hosting the Belau Omal Marathon. Attendees of the news conference included Palauan vice president
Uduch Sengebau Senior.
As part of the initial campaign to promote the race, Taiwanese athletes such as former tennis player
Lu Yen-hsun and former baseball player
Tsao Chun-yang
Tsao Chun-yang (, born 29 March 1976 in Tainan, Taiwan) is a retired Taiwanese baseball player.
He is the only person in CPBL history to have won Rookie of the Year award and Most Valuable Player award in the same year, in the 1999 season. He ...
, as well as legislators, entered the race.
The inaugural race was held on 4 June and drew about 600 runners from around the world. It was Palau's first internationally certified marathon. Finn runner Lauri Raunio won the men's segment with a winning time of 03:08:04 in the men's segment, and Taiwanese Liu Su-ya (劉素雅) finished first in the women's segment with a time of 03:35:03.
Ahead of the 2024 race in September, the Belau Omal Marathon received its course certification as a
World Athletics qualifying race.
See also
*
Palau Marathon
External links
Belau Omal Marathonat Palau Visitors Authority website
References
{{reflist
Marathons in Oceania
Palau–Taiwan relations
Recurring sporting events established in 2023