Latest news

At 1.00 pm at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, just a block away from the Unitied
Nations USA's track and field legend and nine time Olympic Gold medalist
Carl Lewis and US Tennis champion and Social Change advocate Billie
Jean King will join along with numerous UN ambassadors and World Harmony
Coordinators from over 100 nations to launch this global event.

Founded two decades ago by the spiritual leader and world harmony visionary
Sri Chinmoy to promote international
understanding, the World Harmony Run is now the world's longest global
relay. The run is a non-profit event organized entirely by volunteers
involving in particular children and students.

As part of the celebration, Sing for Hope
donor artists Soprano Catherine Watson (San Diego Opera), Trumpeter
Kyle Resnik (Orchestra of St. Luke's) and Pianist Lydia Brown (The
Metropolitan Opera) will perform the music of G.F. Handel. Sing for Hope
connects vibrant artists with vital philanthropic organizations to
benefit communities in need through the transformative power of the
performing arts.

Over a period of seven months, relay teams will carry the World Harmony
Run torch through 100 countries, covering over 10,000 miles and all
50 states in the US and also involving Europe, North Africa, and Australia.

The European leg of the World Harmony Run took a running start from the FAO Headquarters in Rome today at a ceremony attended by Kenyan athletics legend and UNICEF Ambassador Tegla Loroupe, Italian Golden Globe-winning actress and FAO Goodwill Ambassador Gina Lollobrigida, and other dignitaries. Founded two decades ago by the spiritual leader and peace activist Sri Chinmoy to promote world peace, the World Harmony Run is now the world's longest global relay.

Over a period of seven months, relay teams will carry the World Harmony Run torch through 100 countries, covering over 24 000 kms and 49 countries in Europe alone but involving North Africa, Australia and the United States "in a bid to demonstrate that the world is one family for which peace and harmony are essential to its survival", said event organizer, Stefano Cenni.

After the opening at FAO where the torch was lit, the runners proceeded to Rome's Colosseum where 400 children formed the word “Harmony” and to the Campidoglio, where a team of 100 runners from Europe was received officially in front of the city hall in Rome. From there runners will cover 100 to 150 kms a day in teams of 10 to 12 volunteers stopping at towns and villages throughout Europe to arrive at Prague the final destination by October 6, 2008. Along the route, the runners will visit all 49 European countries and participate in numerous events, including two world record attempts in Dublin, Ireland and Cambridge, England.

Watch TV advertisement for opening ceremony: