The Athena Women’s Walk takes place tonight in Jerusalem in honor of a happy, healthy new year and in encouragement of an active, healthy lifestyle.
By LOREN MINSKY/ ITRAVELJERUSALEM.COM TEAMAthena walk 311(photo credit: loren minsky)
Around 4,000 women of all ages and backgrounds are expected to take part in the 'Athena - Women's Walk' on Thursday evening, a spectacular five kilometer route covering the unique sites and streets of the old and new city of Jerusalem. The walk is usually held on the Tel Aviv beachfront and is being held for the first time in Jerusalem. The walk will include diverse participants from religious to secular to a group of East Jerusalem Arab women. About 40% of the women are expected to come from out of Jerusalem. The walk is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, Athena – The Public Council for the Promotion of Women in Sports as well as the Jerusalem municipality. The walk celebrates nine years of successful events designed to inspire women to lead a healthy lifestyle
The event will begin and end with a Sports Festival at Jaffa Gate square, where there will be a spinning area, drumming area, kickboxing zone, Zumba and Latino dance stage, and sport and active lifestyle goodies zone. Upon arrival, participants will receive a pack, which will include a balloon, a piece of paper and pen to write their new year’s wish. The note will be placed in the balloon and released before the walk.One of the anticipated highlights is set to take place just before the walk kicks off, when the organizers along with Mayor Nir Barkat will reveal a 300 meter Shana Tova (Happy New Year) sign on the Old City walls next to Jaffa Gate. The sign weighs in at 600 kilograms and is said to be the largest of its kind in the world. The sign will be lowered and people will write their names on it followed by the release of the multi-colored balloons.The route takes walkers through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, out Zion Gate, past Sultan’s Pool, past the Cinemateque to the pedestrianized train tracks in Baka, up Emek Refaim Street, through Yemin Moshe, past the King David hotel and back to Jaffa Square. Roads will be cornered off and Jerusalemites can expect increased traffic and security.Walkers can look forward to refreshments and entertainment along the way. There will be DJ stations and live music every 100 meters providing a vibrant, festive atmosphere. “We are excited to be holding this event in Jerusalem at this time in history,” says Ilan Green, Manager of Public Sports at the Sports Department of the Jerusalem Municipality. “The event has potential to unite this varied group of women as they come together to have fun in a positive, healthy way”.The walk convenes on Thursday night at Jaffa Gate Square, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Free of charge.For more details and registration free of charge please contact: Shani Marks, +972-52-8900946iTravelJerusalem.com is a new online international portal offering all the latest information on things to do, places to eat and places to stay
