Demonstrating the unifying power of sport, Running in North Korea follows Olympians Aimee Fuller, from Great Britain, and Mirjam “Mimi” Jaeger, from Switzerland, in the intriguing country of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as they run the 2019 Pyongyang Marathon. The Olympic Channel original documentary premieres worldwide on Tuesday, 24 September at Olympic Channel website, its mobile apps and on connected TV devices.
During their week-long visit, Aimee Fuller and Mirjam “Mimi” Jaeger experience the local sports culture and meet fellow Olympians from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Fuelled by curiosity, wonder and a wish to connect with athletes no matter their nationality, the Olympic Channel original documentary is an inside look at the isolated country and showcases the power of sports to go beyond politics.
The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon is held annually every April and is one of the largest sporting events on the DPRK sporting calendar. Runners from around the world, including nearly 1,000 foreigners, participated in the 2019 event. The 26.2-mile course started in front of a near capacity crowd at the 50,000 seat Kim Il Sung Stadium and led participants by many of Pyongyang’s important landmarks, along the Taedong River and through residential neighbourhoods.
The Olympic Channel original production is made possible through the efforts of the National Olympic Committee of the DPRK who helped the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to give the film crew access to the country.
In January 2018, the IOC paved the way for the DPRK to compete at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 resulting in an athlete delegation of 22 athletes who competed in three sports and five disciplines. DPRK athletes joined the Republic of Korea (ROK) at the Opening Ceremony under the Korean Unification Flag.
Offering unparalleled access to Olympic sports and athletes all year round, the Olympic Channel lets fans experience the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in 11 languages. The Olympic Channel over-the-top (OTT) service is available worldwide and subscription-free at Olympic Channel website, its mobile apps and on connected TV devices.
