2016: "Kazan Marathon 2016 - Test yourself!"

The project "Kazan Marathon 2016 - Test Yourself!" is aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and mobilizing the population in the issues of HIV prevention and testing within the annual amateur sports competition for running at the distance of 3, 10, 21 and 42 kilometers, held in Kazan for a second time.
In 2016 according to the decision of organizing committee the Kazan marathon was devoted to counteraction of society of HIV infection – this idea was supported by G. Onishchenko, A. Popova, R. Minnikhanov and 8 934 people, including media persons (statesmen, actors, singers, athletes, journalists, businessmen) from Russia and foreign countries took part in this marathon.

The marathon, as a bright and massive sporting event, developing interest in sports and healthy lifestyles, has become a platform for discussing the topic of HIV infection that is relevant for modern society.


Within the framework of the project "Kazan Marathon 2016 - Check yourself!" information campaigns in the media and the most popular social networks, media events with the participation of famous people of Russia and Tatarstan - press conferences, radio and television were conducted. The work of the rapid HIV testing pavilion at the Kazan Arena sports stadium was organized, information and prevention materials were disseminated, and the level of awareness and effectiveness of the project was assessed.

The organizers of the project were the Organizing Committee of the Fifth AIDS Conference in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Organizing Committee "Kazan Marathon 2016", ANO "Center for Advanced Healthcare Technologies" and the ACNO "New Century".


Main results of the project:

589 visitors of the pavilion " Test Yourself!" received consultations on HIV and learned their status during the period May 13-15, 2016. In addition, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan R. Minnikhanov, the Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation - S. Kraeva, the ministers of health and sports of RT, rapper Basta and dozens of journalists passed HIV testing.

The total number of visitors of the pavilion who received information (information materials, consultations, conversations) about HIV prevention and testing was about 4500 people. Visitors also received souvenir bracelets and phone stickers.
In the pavilion "Test Yourself!" took place interactive and media events with the participation of the Marathon ambassadors - rapper Basta, Stas Piekha, Dilyara Vagapova, Vera Brezhneva. The participants of the events discussed the issues of prevention, HIV-related stigma and participation of popular artists in such actions during the period of May, 13-15.

May 15, 2016 the pavilion became a platform for discussing the role of socially-oriented non-profit organizations in the implementation of the National Strategy for Counteracting the HIV Epidemic. 20 representatives of republican state and non-profit organizations took part in the meeting with the head of Rospotrebnadzor Anna Popova.

The work of the co-organizers of the Marathon with the mass media brought out news about the Kazan Marathon 2016 - Test Yourself to the top of Yandex news. more than 150 media, including NTV, Gazeta.ru, ITAR-TASS and others posted materials about the marathon. Total coverage of the audience in social networks was more than 1 million users. 85% of the references to the marathon in the media were associated with the social program of the marathon. Extended coverage in media was promoted by participation in preparation of a marathon and the running of the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan, including the President R. Minnikhanov, civil cervants of the federal level – A. Popova, G. Onishchenko, S. Krayeva, the mayor of Yekaterinburg E. Roizman, the famous actors.

Following the results of realization of a social part of a marathon, including events organized by the ACNO "New century" 39 profile publications in the media which are most fully reflecting social aspect of the marathon and containing the instruction on organizers of a social part are published. The coverage of users of social media information on a social part of the marathon was about 550 thousand people in Facebook network and 126 thousand in Instagram.