Hundreds of students studying at the French School Lycée Bonaparte and Lycée Franco-Qatarien Voltaire joined the annual running competition yesterday morning at the Qatar Sports Club in Doha.
Teachers and school officials led the opening of what they consider an annual sports event which is part of the 50th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty. However, participants from the German school here in Qatar failed to attend the activity.
“This is a big party. All the teachers and students are waiting for this event and we are happy to be with other delegations,” said Hafid Adnani, headmaster of the French School Lycée Bonaparte.
Since students and teachers are busy the whole year, he said they are giving them the time to enjoy and participate in this running competition.
Wearing personally-designed shirts, one of the highlights of the celebration included a parade of young and adult students who were shouting as they expressed their joy and freedom. “They had the time to mingle and chat with everyone because this is a special day for them,” Adnani said.
For 11-year-old Zachariah, running was good but needs to be done regularly. “You have to train because if you don’t train you can’t do it,” he said. “When you don’t have training, the more steps you do, the more tired you get.”
Lilia, also an 11-year-old and grade 6 student, wants to win the race but managed 143rd out of the 600 participants. Like other kids of her age, she seems to be active in running and promises to do more sports with her classmates and friends.  
“I enjoy this day because I feel good after running. Then after the run, it’s time to play other games with everyone on football the field,” she said.
Emmanuelle Baret, chargee de communication, disclosed that aside from the running competition, they also organised sports events for primary school children like football and swimming lessons.
She also disclosed that around 50% of the students studying at the Lycée Franco-Qatarien Voltaire are Qataris.  
Ambassador Jean-Christophe Peaucelle earlier urged French and German youths to work together in keeping and improving their relationship (under the treaty) “which brought peace and prosperity to both nations”.
The signing of the Elysee Treaty was held on January 22, 1963. It was led by German Federal chancellor Konrad Adenauer and French president General Charles de Gaulle which signalled the creation of the European Union.