On May 3, “Baku Marathon 2026” brought together thousands of
runners for one of the country’s most anticipated sporting events.
The marathon was organized at the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation, with the exclusive partnership of Azercell Telecom.
With nearly 25,000 participants, including runners from
Azerbaijan, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, China,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Türkiye,
Ukraine, and other countries the event once again highlighted the
growing popularity of mass sporting initiatives, promoting a
healthy lifestyle while fostering a strong sense of unity and
community spirit.
Held under the motto “Win the Wind,” the Baku Marathon marked a
significant milestone by introducing the full 42 km marathon
distance for the first time. The race commenced at the State Flag
Square, with participants crossing the finish line in the Sea
Breeze area. Separate finish zones were also arranged for
participants competing in the 10 km and 21 km distances along the
designated route.
Ahmet Alkanoğlu from Türkiye secured the top spot in the men's
category, becoming the first athlete to cross the finish line,
followed by Ukrainian runner Vitaliy Shafar, and Yryskeldi Akerov
of Kyrgyzstan, who secured third place.
In the women's competition, Elena Tolstykh from Russia claimed
first place, while Azerbaijan's Anna Yusupova earned a
distinguished second-place finish, with Shirin Akimbay from
Kazakhstan taking third place.
Azercell presented special awards to the winners. Continuing its
long-standing tradition, the company also recognized
high-performing student participants, underscoring its commitment
to supporting youth engagement in sports and encouraging the next
generation to pursue active lifestyles.
The management team, employees, and corporate partners of
Azercell actively supported the marathon through their
participation. This initiative forms part of the company’s broader
corporate social responsibility efforts aimed at promoting a
healthy, active, and socially engaged society.
