The Tribune

THE Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, a global relay that promotes international friendship and understanding, got started in the Bahamas on Monday and will remain here until Saturday, November 16.

It marks the third time that the Peace Run has been held in the Bahamas, returning after its last appearance in February, 2010.

On Monday, delegates of the Peace Run, led by Salil Wilson, arrived in the Bahamas for a week of activities which began with an appearance at CV Bethel High School.

According to Wilson, the Peace Run advocates are excited to be in the Bahamas because they see the country as paradise on Earth - the perfect place to be a standard for world peace.

Harold Munnings Sr, OBE, the first to lead a Bahamian team to the Olympics, received the torch on behalf of the Bahamas on Monday, signalling the beginning of the Peace Run week here in the Bahamas.

He was joined by Ramon Miller, anchor of the men’s 4 x 400 metre relay team that won the gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson, along with executives from his ministry.

Today, the torch is in Harbour Island, and returns to the capital on Wednesday as Peace Run visits Oakes Field and Albury Sayle Schools.

On Thursday, the Peace Torch will be burning in Andros before it returns to the capital for a reception and art exhibition at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium at 6:30pm where works of student artists will be on display, marking the world peace theme.

The Peace Torch Run is slated to commence 9am Saturday, November 16, at the new TAR Stadium. The route will begin at the stadium and end there as well, for the start of an entire day of fun for the family, called Star Fun Day.

The public and groups and institutions are all invited to attend. Come out in uniforms and banners so that all groups supporting world peace can be represented.

Since its inception in 1987, the event has reached over 140 nations and touched the lives of millions of people.

Known between 2005 and 2013 as the World Harmony Run, the Peace Run does not seek to raise money or highlight any political cause, but simply strives to create goodwill among peoples of all nations.

By passing the torch from one person to the next, the relay offers people from many nations the opportunity to express their hopes and dreams for a better, brighter future.

People from all walks of life hold the symbolic torch to wish for a peaceful world. Passing the torch from one person to the next unites us together in our common aspiration to offer something positive to our world – together we can make a difference.