MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Medan Mayor Rico Waas officially launched the Milo Activ Indonesia Race 2026 on Sunday morning, May 10, 2026, at Lapangan Benteng Medan. In a remarkable show of enthusiasm, he not only flagged off the event but also joined thousands of participants in the race and completed the course himself.
The race commenced at around 05:45 a.m. WIB, led by Mayor
Rico Waas alongside Business Executive Officer Beverages & Confectionery PT Nestlé Indonesia Alaa Shaban, Chairman of the North Sumatra Athletics Association David Luther Lubis, and representatives of the North Sumatra provincial government.
Immediately after giving the official start signal, Rico Waas joined the crowd of runners and participated in the full race route. He completed the course in approximately 60 minutes, finishing back at Lapangan Benteng alongside other participants.
Read Also: Rico Waas Demands Swift Action After Citizen Dialogue in Medan Timur Surge in Participation Reflects Growing Fitness CultureThis year's event recorded a significant increase in participation, drawing approximately 7,200 to 7,300 runners from various age groups, ranging from children to adults. The atmosphere was lively, energetic, and strongly focused on promoting healthy living and community engagement.
Several prominent officials attended the event, including Medan Police Chief Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak and Military District Commander 0201/Medan Deli Yudha Adi Nurcahyo.
Mayor Rico Waas highlighted the city's growing enthusiasm for an active lifestyle, noting a sharp rise in participation compared to the previous year.
Read Also: Rico Waas Engages Residents in Medan Timur, Orders Swift Action on Public Issues "Last year there were around 4,000 participants, and now it has exceeded 7,000. This shows a strong and growing public interest in fitness and health," he said.
Medan's Vision as a Sports Tourism Hub
Rico Waas also emphasized Medan's potential to become a leading sports tourism destination. Several public venues such as Lapangan Benteng, Lapangan Merdeka, Kebun Bunga, Teladan, and the Cadika area are increasingly being utilized for large-scale sporting events.
"Medan aims to host more sports events in the future. Larger races such as half marathons or marathons are also being considered, although they require careful planning, especially in terms of traffic management," he added.
Read Also: Medan Utara Hosts Islamic Cultural Festival to Boost Belawan Image The event concluded with an award ceremony where Mayor
Rico Waas and Alaa Shaban presented prizes to winners across various categories.
The Milo Activ Indonesia Race 2026 in Medan not only showcased competitive spirit but also reinforced the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, family participation, and Medan's ambition to emerge as a regional sports event hub. (IDNC)
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Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR:
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