On August 17 the first eco marathon “Save Baikal by the whole world!” took part at the Central Stadium of Ulan-Ude within the framework of the Day of Baikal. The marathon was organized by the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal and the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Buryatia with support of the radio station “Autoradio”. The Group METROPOL, the Group Titan, “River Port” company became the partner of the maraphon.

About five thousand people came to support marathon participants and contribute to the protection of Lake Baikal, despite the chilly weather.

The marathon was opened by President of the Republic of Buryatia Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn. Then the participants and guests of the festival were addressed by: governor of the Irkutsk region Sergey Eroschenko, deputy of the State Duma, Deputy Chairman of State Duma Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Ecology, Chairman of the FPLB Board of Trustees Mikhail Slipenchuk, Chairman of the People’s Khural of the Republic of Buryatia Matvey Gershevich, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Irkutsk region Lyudmila Berlina, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources of the Republic of Buryatia Alexander Lbov, Vice President of the FPLB Bair Tsyrenov and other officials.

All the speakers stressed the importance of holding such events aimed at strengthening environmental education, the organization of specific cases of effective conservation of Lake Baikal, the development of tourism and recreational activities, drawing attention to environmental and social issues in the region. Bair Tsyrenov underlined: “Everyone who comes to the cleanest lake in the world, should always have the most pure intentions”.

Olga Zhigmitova, Genghis Radnaev, Seseg Ayusheeva, Rinchin Dashitsyrenov, Namkhai Munhzul, group “GB Corporation”, “Hathur Zuu”, “Temujin” and other popular Buryat artists took part in the marathon concert program.

The audience enthusiastically welcomed their countrywoman Lyubov Volosova who won bronze at the XXX Olympic Games in London in freestyle wrestling.

Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal awarded special diplomas “Defender of Baikal” to the volunteer representatives of environmental organizations who annually clean the lake shore from garbage. Among them – “Great Baikal Trail”, “Save Baikal”, International Baikal shore voluntary service, Regional Public Organization “Ecoliga”, Regional Society “Gran”, etc.

Also, the diplomas were given to participants of the comprex scientific expedition of the MSU Faculty of Geography and leader of the expedition of Russian Geographic Society “Around Baikal” Sergey Sablin.

An environmental quiz on the lake, where the winners received prizes from “Metropol Express” and “MegaFon” became a culmination of the marathon.

The event was finished by the concert of People’s Artist of Russia Oleg Gazmanov and group “Squadron”. The singer appealed to residents and guests of Buryatia from the stage to come together around a central idea – preservation of Lake Baikal for future generations.

More than 700　000 rubles have been already collected during the marathon. This money is intended for organization and improvement of recreational areas in the Baikal region of the Republic of Buryatia. On the shore of Lake Baikal there will be created environmental infrastructure of the latest technology, will be organized regular cleaning of beaches, established garbage collection factory and its sorting.