By Catherine Dailey.
Last Saturday, June 22, Diplomat Magazine’s third annual 5k Fun Run and 3k Diplomat Walk took place in the Haagse Bos—one of the two oldest forests in the Netherlands.
The 5k run commenced in front of the Chalet Ten Bosch, a local landmark located next to the Louwman Auto Museum on the Leidsestraatweg. Diplomats, and their families, easily traversed the well-marked shaded route through the city’s unique urban greenspace and around the large pond in the center of the forest.
Walkers, some with small children, also turned out in large numbers for the 3k wooded walking event.
In keeping with the friendly spirit of the day’s diplomatic program, everyone was awarded an official “Diplomat Magazine” medal and went home as a winner!
Sumira Dixit, Canada; Matanja Perugini, Italy and Anne Coulon, France, were the top three runners in the women’s category. From the first to the fifth, the top runners in the men’s category were Marcin Hubert Kawalowski, Poland; Bartomiei Swiderski, Poland; Mpendulo Ndlour, South Africa, Martin Pizinger, Czech Republic and Davide Colombo, Italy.
In addition to the medal, the top seven winners also received special gifts provided by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland.
The Chinese Ambassador, H.E. Hong Xu, joined the race, together with a select “team” of sporting diplomats from his embassy.
The Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Netherlands, H.E. Ngo Thi Hoa, was also joined by other Vietnamese diplomats, together with their families.
The ambassador of Italy, H.E. Andrea Perugini, ran the 5 k with his wife, his daughter, second place in the women’s category and one of the diplomats of the Italian embassy that resulted in fifth place in the race.
The occasion to meet, in an informal setting, with other members of the diplomatic community, was enjoyed by all.
The Armenian Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Tigran Balayan; the Irish Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Kevin Kelly; the Israeli Ambassador , H.E. Mr. Aviv Shir-On; and the Moldovan Ambassador, H.E. Tatiana Parvu also participated in the program and were joined by diplomats from Croatia, Canada, Kosovo, Hungary, South Africa, Colombia, Russia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and many others.
The program concluded with a casual outdoor luncheon on the shaded terrace of Chalet Ten Bosch, beneath the tall trees of the “Haagse Bos.”
Chalet Ten Bosch http://www.chalettenbosch.nl
Photography by Kim Vermaat and Catherine Dailey.
