Havana, January 1 (PL)-- The Marabana-MaraCuba project held on Sunday in this capital the San Silvestre race, a few hours after the homonymous competition that is traditionally held in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.

Some 200 walkers from the island took part in the route planned by the organizers of the event, which had a 10-kilometer circuit through the arteries near the headquarters of the National Sports Institute.

The head of the National Commission of Races and Walks (CNCC), Carlos Gattorno, commented to Prensa Latina that the event has already had several editions and on this occasion saluted the 65th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, the 11th Congress of the Federation of Cuban Women and the 38th version of the Havana International Marathon, scheduled for November 2024.

The race had an added value because it was held on the last day of 2023 in almost all continents.

In 2024 we will have the Havana long-distance race as our main event and we want to obtain quotas for the Olympic Games in Paris, added Gattorno.

In the case of Brazil, the international San Silvestre event has already celebrated 98 years since its inauguration thanks to the initiative of journalist Cásper Libero, who in 1924 attended a night competition in Paris, France, in which athletes ran the course carrying flaming torches.

The first race in the South American giant was held at midnight on December 31, 1924.

Alfredo Gomes, nicknamed King of Breath, finished in the lead among the 48 registered athletes, with a time of 23 minutes and 10 seconds in a course of 8,800 meters.