Marathon for Peace and Human Rights Ends in Moscow

The Multathlon runners leave from Gorky Park continuing their journey

12-year-old Liza Krynitskaya, the youngest member of the Multathalon team, hands out human rights booklets

Officials sign on to the Pledge for Human Rights presented by "Multathlon for Peace and Human Rights" members

The Multathlon running team carry out events promoting peace and human rights at different historic locations in the city of Moscow

A multi-sport marathon through Russia's capital to advance peace and human rights ended yesterday after five days in which athletes met with government officials and members of the public all over Moscow, urging them to apply the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The "multathlon" began on August 17 in Red Square with a colorful ceremony displaying the flags of 17 nations and a rousing send off for the team from Russian officials, including Ms. Martyanova, Deputy Prefect of the South Administrative Division of Moscow.

Ms. Martyanova sped the participants on their way by signing a proclamation for peace and human rights that the team carried throughout the city, with officials and dignitaries adding their signatures.

Ms. Elena Shklyarova, chairman of the Steering Committee of the Multathlon 2005 and representative of the Church of Scientology of Moscow, described the purpose of the five-day sporting event:

"Russia had its first multathlon in 2002 when athletes carried a 'Torch of Freedom' from Saint Petersburg to Paris. We are proud to adopt this wonderful tradition in our city. We intend to hold multathlon events every year to make people more aware of the importance of human rights."

The youngest member of the multathlon team, 12-year-old Liza Krynitskaya, told the crowd, "If all of my age learn about their rights and how to respect the rights of each other, then all wars on the planet will be over within the next few years, and there shall be peace on Earth."

In famous Gorky Park, a group of artists joined the athletes in a concert for human rights, while the team distributed copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations in 1948. The Declaration is designed to prevent a repeat of such horrors as World War II, in which 62 million died.

Participants believe that with terrorists continuing to kill innocent people and the existence of racial and religious conflicts on every continent, it is vital to unify diverse cultures and religions by promoting human rights as a tool to bring peace.

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