I come from Lebanon, and I believe that running can change the world. I know what I have just said is simply not obvious.
Une jam nga Libani, dhe besoj se vrapimi mund te ndryshoje boten. E di se ajo cfare thashe nuk eshte shume e qarte.
You know, Lebanon as a country has been once destroyed by a long and bloody civil war. Honestly, I don't know why they call it civil war when there is nothing civil about it. With Syria to the north, Israel and Palestine to the south, and our government even up till this moment is still fragmented and unstable. For years, the country has been divided between politics and religion. However, for one day a year, we truly stand united, and that's when the marathon takes place.
Ju e dini, Libani si shtet eshte shkaterruar njehere nga nje lufte e gjate dhe e pergjakshme civile. Sinqerisht, nuk e di perse e quajne lufte civile kur nuk ka asgje civile ne te. Me Sirine ne veri, Izraelin dhe Palestinen ne jug, qeveria jone ne kete moment eshte akoma e copetuar dhe e paqendrueshme. Per shume vite, vendi ka qene i ndare ndermjet politikes dhe fese. Gjithsesi, per nje dite te vitit, ne qendrojme me te vertete te bashkuar,
I used to be a marathon runner. Long distance running was not only good for my well-being but it helped me meditate and dream big. So the longer distances I ran, the bigger my dreams became. Until one fateful morning, and while training, I was hit by a bus. I nearly died, was in a coma, stayed at the hospital for two years, and underwent 36 surgeries to be able to walk again.
dhe kjo eshte dita kur zhvilllohet maratona. Une kam qene garuese ne maratona. Te vrapoja ne distanca te gjata nuk ishte e mire vetem per shendetin tim, por me ndihmonte te meditoja dhe te enderroja. Sa me e gjate distanca qe vrapoja, aq me e madhe behej endrra ime, derisa nje mengjes fatal, ndersa isha duke u stervitur, me goditi nje autobus. Pothuajse vdiqa, isha ne koma, dhe qendrova ne spital per dy vjet, si dhe iu nenshtrova 36 operacioneve qe te isha ne gjendje te ecja serish.
As soon as I came out of my coma, I realized that I was no longer the same runner I used to be, so I decided, if I couldn't run myself, I wanted to make sure that others could. So out of my hospital bed, I asked my husband to start taking notes, and a few months later, the marathon was born.
Sapo dola nga koma, kuptova se nuk isha me ne gjendje te jem garuesja qe isha dikur, keshtu qe vendosa, qe nese nuk do te mund te vrapoja vete, te sigurohesha qe te tjeret te mund ta benin kete. Kur dola nga spitali, i kerkova bashkeshortit tim qe te fillonte te mbante shenime, dhe pak muaj me vone,
Organizing a marathon as a reaction to an accident may sound strange, but at that time, even during my most vulnerable condition, I needed to dream big. I needed something to take me out of my pain, an objective to look forward to. I didn't want to pity myself, nor to be pitied, and I thought by organizing such a marathon, I'll be able to pay back to my community, build bridges with the outside world, and invite runners to come to Lebanon and run under the umbrella of peace.
lindi maratona. Organizimi i nje maratone si reagim kundrejt aksidentit mund te tingelloje cuditshem, por ne ate kohe, edhe nen kushtet e mia me te keqija, kisha nevoje te enderroja. Kisha nevoje per dicka qe te ma largonte dhimbjen, nje objektiv te cilin duhej te ndiqja. Nuk doja te ndieja keqardhje per veten time, por as te kisha keqardhjen e te tjereve, dhe mendova se duke organizuar nje maratone te tille, do te mundesha ti ktheja borxhin komunitetit tim, te ndertoja ura lidhese me boten e jashtme, dhe te ftoja vrapues te vinin ne Liban, dhe te garonin nen ombrellen e paqes.
Organizing a marathon in Lebanon is definitely not like organizing one in New York. How do you introduce the concept of running to a nation that is constantly at the brink of war? How do you ask those who were once fighting and killing each other to come together and run next to each other? More than that, how do you convince people to run a distance of 26.2 miles at a time they were not even familiar with the word "marathon"? So we had to start from scratch.
Organizimi i nje maratone ne Liban, perfundimisht nuk eshte e njejte si te organizosh nje te tille ne New York. Si mund te prezantosh konceptin e vrapimit ne nje shtet i cili ndodhet vazhdimisht ne kufijte e luftes? Si mund t'u kerkosh atyre te cilet njehere e njekohe luftonin dhe vrisnin njeri tjetrin te mblidhen dhe te vrapojne prane njeri tjetrit? Me shume se kaq, si mund te bindesh njerezit te vrapojne ne nje distance prej 26.2 milje ne nje kohe qe ata nuk ishin familjarizuar me fjalen "maratone"?
For almost two years, we went all over the country and even visited remote villages. I personally met with people from all walks of life -- mayors, NGOs, schoolchildren, politicians, militiamen, people from mosques, churches, the president of the country, even housewives. I learned one thing: When you walk the talk, people believe you. Many were touched by my personal story, and they shared their stories in return. It was honesty and transparency that brought us together. We spoke one common language to each other, and that was from one human to another. Once that trust was built, everybody wanted to be part of the marathon to show the world the true colors of Lebanon and the Lebanese and their desire to live in peace and harmony.
Keshtu qe na duhej te fillonin nga zero. Pothuajse per dy vjet, shkuam ne gjithe vendin madje edhe ne fshatrat me te thelle. Une personalisht u takova me njerez te profesioneve te ndryshme, kryebashkiake, NGOs, femije te shkollave, politikane, punonjes te milicise, njerez neper xhami, kisha, presidentin e vendit, madje edhe me shtepiake. Mesova nje gje: Kur merr mundimin te ecesh dhe tu flasesh njerezve, ata te besojne. Shume prej tyre u preken nga historia ime personale, dhe me treguan historite e tyre ne kembim. Ishte pikerisht ndershmeria dhe transparenca ajo qe na bashkoi. Ne flisnim nje gjuhe te perbashket me njeri tjetrin, dhe qe kalonte nga nje njeri te tjetri. Sapo u ndertua besimi, cdokush deshironte te merrte pjese ne maratone, ti tregonte botes ngjyrat e verteta te Libanit, atdhedashurine, si dhe deshiren per te jetuar ne paqe dhe harmoni.
In October 2003, over 6,000 runners from 49 different nationalities came to the start line, all determined, and when the gunfire went off, this time it was a signal to run in harmony, for a change.
Ne Tetor te 2003, mbi 6.000 vrapues nga 49 nenshtetsi te ndryshme, erdhen ne vijen e startit, te gjithe te vendosur, dhe kur arma u shkrep, ai ishte momenti i sinjalit qe te gjithe te vraponin ne harmoni, per nje ndryshim.
The marathon grew. So did our political problems. But for every disaster we had, the marathon found ways to bring people together. In 2005, our prime minister was assassinated, and the country came to a complete standstill, so we organized a five-kilometer United We Run campaign. Over 60,000 people came to the start line, all wearing white T-shirts with no political slogans. That was a turning point for the marathon, where people started looking at it as a platform for peace and unity.
Maratona mori permasa me te medha. Po keshtu edhe problemet tona politike. Por per cdo rrenim qe ne kishim, maratona gjente menyren per te bashkuar njerezit. Ne 2005, kryeministri yne u vra, dhe vendi ishte ne nje kolaps total, keshtu qe ne organizuam nje fushate vrapimi pese kilometra, nen moton Ne Vrapojme te Bashkuar. Mbi 60.000 njerez erdhen ne vijen e startit, te gjithe veshur me bluza te bardha pa slogane politike. Ajo ishte pika e ndryshimit per maratonen, ku njerezit filluan ta shihnin ate si nje platforme te paqes dhe bashkimit.
Between 2006 up to 2009, our country, Lebanon, went through unstable years, invasions, and more assassinations that brought us close to a civil war. The country was divided again, so much that our parliament resigned, we had no president for a year, and no prime minister. But we did have a marathon.
Ndermjet 2006 dhe 2009, vendi yne, Libani, kaloi vite paqendrueshmerie, pushtimi dhe vrasjesh te shumta te cilat na cuan afer nje lufte civile. Vendi u nda serish, aq shume saqe parlamenti dha doreheqjen, per nje vit nuk kishim president, dhe as kryeminister. Por ne kishim maratone.
(Applause)
( Duartrokitje)
So through the marathon, we learned that political problems can be overcome. When the opposition party decided to shut down part of the city center, we negotiated alternative routes. Government protesters became sideline cheerleaders. They even hosted juice stations.
Keshtu nepermjet maratones, ne mesuam se problemet politike mund te kaperceheshin. Kur partia opozitare vendosi te mbyllte qendren e qytetit, ne negociuam per rruge alternative. Protestuesit qeveritare u bene duartrokitesit dhe mbeshtetesit anesore.
(Laughter)
Madje ata ngriten edhe stacione ku mund te piheshin lengje te ndryshme.
You know, the marathon has really become one of its kind. It gained credibility from both the Lebanese and the international community. Last November 2012, over 33,000 runners from 85 different nationalities came to the start line, but this time, they challenged a very stormy and rainy weather. The streets were flooded, but people didn't want to miss out on the opportunity of being part of such a national day.
Sic mund ta dini, maratona eshte bere ne te vertete unike. Ajo fitoi besueshmeri nga Libanezet dhe komuniteti nderkombetar. Nentorin e kaluar te 2012, mbi 33.000 vrapues nga 85 shtete te ndryshme erdhen ne vijen e startit, por kete here, ata sfiduan motin me shi dhe stuhi. Rruget u permbyten, por njerezit nuk donin te humbnin mundesine per te qene pjese e nje dite te tille kombetare.
BMA has expanded. We include everyone: the young, the elderly, the disabled, the mentally challenged, the blind, the elite, the amateur runners, even moms with their babies. Themes have included runs for the environment, breast cancer, for the love of Lebanon, for peace, or just simply to run.
BMA ishte zgjeruar. Ne perfshinim kedo: te rinjte, te moshuarit, ata me aftesi te kufizuara, te semuret mendore, te verberit, vrapuesit amatore, madje edhe nenat me bebe. Temat e perfshira ne kete maratone ishin per mjedisin, kancerin e gjirit, dashurine per Libanin, paqen, ose thjesht te vraposh.
The first annual all-women-and-girls race for empowerment, which is one of its kind in the region, has just taken place only a few weeks ago, with 4,512 women, including the first lady, and this is only the beginning.
Gara e pare vjetore per fuqizimin e grave dhe vajzave, e cila eshte e vetmja e ketij lloji ne rajon, ndodhi para pak javesh, ku u perfshine 4,512 gra, perfshi edhe zonjen e pare te vendit, dhe ky eshte vetem fillimi.
Thank you.
Faleminderit.
(Applause)
(Duartrokitje)
BMA has supported charities and volunteers who have helped reshape Lebanon, raising funds for their causes and encouraging others to give. The culture of giving and doing good has become contagious. Stereotypes have been broken. Change-makers and future leaders have been created. I believe these are the building blocks for future peace.
BMA ka mbeshtetur bamiresite dhe vullnetaret te cilet kane ndihmuar per ta rimodeluar Libanin duke ngritur fonde per kauzat e tyre dhe duke inkurajuar te tjeter te dhurojne. Kultura e dhurimit dhe e bamiresise po behet me e forte. Stereotipet jane thyer. Ndryshuesit dhe drejtuesit e te ardhmes jane krijuar tashme. Une besoj se keto jane blloqet e ndertimit per paqen ne te ardhmen.
BMA has become such a respected event in the region that government officials in the region, like Iraq, Egypt and Syria, have asked the organization to help them structure a similar sporting event. We are now one of the largest running events in the Middle East, but most importantly, it is a platform for hope and cooperation in an ever-fragile and unstable part of the world. From Boston to Beirut, we stand as one.
BMA eshte kthyer ne nje ngarje kaq te respektueshme ne rajon, saqe zyrtaret qeveritare ne rajon si Iraku, Egjipti dhe Siria, i kane kerkuar organizates t'i ndihmoje ne ndertimin e nje ngjarjeje te njejte sportive. Ne jemi aktualisht eventi me i madh garues ne Lindjen e Mesme, por me e rendesishmja, eshte se eshte nje platforme per shpresen dhe bashkepunimin ne nje pjese kaq delikate dhe te paqendrueshme te botes. Nga Bostoni ne Beirut, ne jemi nje.
(Applause)
( Duartrokitje)
After 10 years in Lebanon, from national marathons or from national events to smaller regional races, we've seen that people want to run for a better future. After all, peacemaking is not a sprint. It is more of a marathon.
Pas 10 vitesh ne Liban, nga maratonat kombetare apo nga eventet kombetare deri te garat e vogla rajonale, ne kemi pare se njerezit duan te vrapojne per nje te ardhme me te mire. Mbi te gjitha, te besh paqje nuk eshte thjesht nje sprint. Eshte nje maratone.
Thank you.
Faleminderit.
(Applause)
( Duartrokitje)