– Sister City Relationship through Marathon Events
Ms Yumiko Tanaka
Commemorating the opening of the Kansai International Airport, Sakai City as well as nine other cities and four towns started the Senshu International City Marathon in September 1994. People from participating districts look forward to seeing the runners in the event every year. We celebrated the 23rd Senshu International City Marathon this year.
Sakai City has three sister cities. This year Mr. David Gabriner from Berkeley City, California, U.S.A and Mr. Timothy Sutton from Wellington City, New Zealand were invited to the Senshu Marathon. A total number of 5,243 runners participated and Mr. Sutton placed second in the Men’s Marathon which had a total of 3,063 runners. He said the cheers from the audience in the streets helped him run and achieve his best time. They departed Sakai after enjoying some sightseeing, an official meeting with the Mayor, an exchange with kids at a local kindergarten and an overnight stay with Sakai citizens. They also received the title of goodwill ambassadors.
For over 20 years Wellington’s sister city Sakai has supported a Wellington-based runner to attend the annual Senshu International City Marathon in Osaka. The recipient of that trip not only represents Wellington at the marathon but also participates in a range of cultural and social events while in Sakai, including meeting city council officials, visiting important historical and cultural sites, homestay with a local Sakai family, and attending functions with the Sakai Wellington Association.
The Wellington Sakai Association and the Wellington Marathon are keen to help Wellington city reciprocate this relationship by inviting a runner from Sakai to participate in the Wellington Marathon annually.
The Wellington Marathon was held on June 26 this year and Ms. Tanaka was nominated to be a runner to represent Sakai city as she won first place in the Senshu Women’s Marathon with a run time of 2:57:12. She has overseas exchange experience and has a lot of interest in a possible exchange programme with citizens of Wellington. We hope she becomes a great ambassador for Sakai city.
