Joy - and a bit of rivalry - at millionth parkrun

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Joy - and a bit of rivalry - at millionth parkrun2 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleLeyla HayesPA MediaParkrun is now a global community of weekly events that are free to everyoneThe one millionth parkrun has taken place at Bushy Park in south west London, where the community event's founder praised "the benefit and the joy of taking part". It was there that the first parkrun was held 22 years ago when Paul Sinton-Hewitt organised "a little event" to see his friends on a Saturday morning. He told London: "Thirteen people plus five volunteers pitched up.

We ran round the park, we went for coffee - and so it all began. "Explaining why he thought parkrun's weekly events had become such a phenomenon, he said: "There's no cost to those taking part. We make it all about doing something physical in the park and then focusing on the social element.

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"PA MediaElizabeth Duggan, Paul Sinton-Hewitt and Dame Kelly Holmes join runners at Bushy ParkThat initial event has evolved into a global community of weekly timed 5km parkruns on Saturdays and 2km junior parkruns on Sundays, with more than 2,800 event locations in 23 countries. Runners held cards to form a "thanks a million" sign at Bushy Park on Saturday. They were joined by Dame Kelly Holmes, who won 800m and 1500m gold medals at the 2004 Olympics, to celebrate the one millionth event.

The landmark parkrun saw a large turnout, with runners queuing in finish funnels to get their times recorded on a sunny morning in the capital. Sinton-Hewitt said: "All these people in the queue waiting to be scanned are having a chat with one another, they're becoming friends and next week they'll have a little bit of a rivalry with each other, it's all part of the magic. And really anyone can take part.

"Parkrun began as a get together among friends He added: " a lot of people who start parkrun in their 60s and 70s. There's a group of 80-year-olds who celebrate here in this park in July every single year, and there's over 100 of them. "So yes, it's not about the athletics.

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It's about getting out, doing a little bit of 5km walk or run or a 2km if you're a child on a Sunday. And then it's about what happens here, this melee of people just gelling, having such a great time. "PA MediaEarlier this year, the King turned out to support a parkrun near SandringhamSinton-Hewitt also said parkrun had helped him deal with mental health issues.

"Parkrun for me is the moment that turns my week," he said. "I go from being very introverted and not really wanting to engage to how I am now where I can actually talk to you and to the people at large. It's a marvellous thing.

"Elizabeth Duggan, chief executive officer of parkrun Global, said hitting one million events was "just phenomenal". She said parkrun had "massive ambitions for the future", including to increase the number of parkrun countries from 23 to 30 by 2030.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.