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More than 50 take part in SAIWAI event
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Posted on May 14 2008
More than 50 walking enthusiasts took part in last Sunday’s 9th Annual SOPHIA Walk and World Walking Day held along the scenic Saipan Beach Pathway.
The occasion coincided with the islands’ Mother’s Day celebration and Saipan Walking Association, Inc. treated the celebrants with a specially made cake and cookies from Herman’s Modern Bakery.
The SOPHIA Walk and World Walking Day event also saw 16 members of the Nippon Turtle Club participate led by 86-year-old Jo Izuma and her son Junichiro Izumi.
The elder Izuma, who has made the visit to Saipan and SOPHIA Walk participation a yearly pilgrimage, said she was again happy to be back.
“Again, this year, we are able to visit Saipan and participate in the SOPHIA Walk. Warm hospitality and bright red flame trees welcomed us. We are excited to join the walk by wearing the same T-shirts. We really enjoyed the opportunity to walk 5-kilometer course with the members and had a great time conversing with them,” she said.
SAIWAI said this early the group already expressed their intension to come back for the 10th Annual SOPHIA Walk and World Walking Day next year.
Participants last Sunday walked southward to the Oleai bus stop and back for the 10-kilometer route, while five-kilometer participants only walked to the World War II Japanese Tank and back.
Named after former first lady Sophia Tenorio, SOPHIA stands for Saipan Outdoor Physical Health Invigorating Adventure, while World Walking Day was initiated by the International Federation of Popular Sports and is celebrated in the month of May by IVV member countries and direct member clubs around the world.
Last year, the World Walking Day Walk attracted 102 participants, 20 of which were members of the Nippon Turtle Association.
Like all SAIWAI activities, IVV members received credit for joining the 9th Annual SOPHIA Walk and World Walking Day. The IVV has member walking clubs in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, the CNMI, and 29 other European countries, including Germany.
For more information about SAIWAI and its future events, contact Mario at 322-8876, Hiroko at 322-8781, or Bea at 285-1694.
