The celebrations for the 94th Anniversary of the Liberation of Gaziantep from Enemy Occupation on December 25 have begun.
As part of the celebration program, the Metropolitan Municipality and the Turkish Athletics Federation organized the “Liberation Run and Public March” in cooperation.
24,941 athletes and citizens from different provinces of the country participated in the run with the participation of Governor Ali Yerlikaya, Gaziantep Deputies Nejat Koçer, Ahmet Uzer, Mehmet Erdoğan, Garrison Commander Brigadier General Murat Soysal, Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin, Turkish Athletics Federation President Fatih Çintimar and provincial protocol members.
The Liberation Run was held in 7 different categories on a 10,000-meter track. Governor Yerlikaya, MPs, Garrison Commander Soysal, Mayor Şahin and protocol members also attended the 5,000-meter “People’s Run and Walk” held later.
Evaluating the “December 25 Liberation Run and People’s Walk” organization, Governor Yerlikaya said; “We remember all our martyr and veteran ancestors who left us this heavenly homeland with mercy, gratitude and appreciation. I would like to thank our athletes and competitors who came to our province from many different parts of our country to participate in the run today, our fellow citizens, the Turkish Athletics Federation and our Metropolitan Municipality and the organization committee. I congratulate all our athletes and citizens who participated in the run.”
Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin said in her statement, “94 years ago, our ancestors left us a great legacy. Greetings to our ancestors, our martyrs, our veterans. We are saying something with the people’s run today. We have not forgotten 94 years ago, we will not let it be forgotten. “We are going to the 100th year of the Republic with the power we received from our ancestors. We are going to be one of the 10 largest economies in the world,” he said. At the end of the competition, medals, cups and participation certificates were given to the winners by Governor Ali Yerlikaya and protocol members at a ceremony.
