Omsk hosting XII Siberian Christmas Semi-Marathon on January 6

Omsk is hosting the Twelfth Siberian Christmas Semi-Marathon on January 6.

RIA Novosti was informed in the semi-marathon organizational committee that over 600 sportsmen had applied for participating in the main 21-km race and the amateur 7-km race, including foreign sportsmen from six countries: the U.S., Austria, Great Britain, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.

The race is traditionally taking place along the central thoroughfares of Omsk's historical area.

The first Siberian semi-marathon was held on December 29, 1991. The following year the semi-marathon was timed to Christmas and received an international status. The lowest temperature the races have taken place at was registered in 2001: it was 39 degrees below zero centigrade, which made the semi-marathon extreme.

The organizers of the present winter race note that it is the severe Siberian climate conditions that attract foreign sportsmen. According to the Omsk Hydrometeorological Center's forecast, on January 6 the temperature won't fall below minus 7 centigrade.