Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: A city-based foundation is holding Konark International Cyclothon (KIC) scheduled November 29. Close to 1,000 cyclists are expected to participate in the bicycling event.
Roots of Orissa Foundation, the event organiser, has informed that about 200 organisations, including educational institutions, NGOs, corporate bodies, cycling clubs, government organisations and others are to take part in the event touted to be the largest in India.
Sudhir Kumar Dash, convener trustee of Roots of Orissa Foundation said: “We have received entries from 1,000 cyclists from India and abroad. Sports personalities from the country will also join the cyclothon. Bollywood celebrities might also grace the event.”
Sudhir added that the initiative was aimed to encourage bicyle culture at tourist places considering its importance to ecology, economy and human health. “It is not a race. It is a cycle tour campaign to create awareness on environment, effects of climate change, protection of ecology and promoting cycling among people as an alternative mode of commuting,” he said.
“We are hopeful that the cyclothon will not only enhance interest in cycling in India but also promote health benefits of cycling,” he added.
Celebrities from sport, film, mountaineering, scuba diving and art including Arjuna Award winner Minati Mohapatra, MP and former hockey player Dilip Tirkey, MP Sidhanta Mohapatra, scuba diver Sabir Bux and mountaineer Joga Byasa Bhoi are brand ambassadors of the event.
The cyclothon, which kicks off from Konark temple will cover 40 km and end at Puri Gundicha temple. Children and differently-abled persons will participate in the event for the first five kilometers.
The event is open to all but it has been advised that the healthy and regular cyclists should ideally participate. The organisers plan to specially support participants from outside with food and accommodation. They need to register online and provide details to avoid inconvenience.
Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Mahesh Sharma, and Orissa tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda will attend the flag-off ceremony.
Celebrities Rahul Bose, Kunal Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Milkha Singh and others are also likely to take part.
