Welcome to Germany! After a morning with hundreds of school children in Luxembourg we crossed the border to Germany at Wasserbillig on Thursday afternoon. Running into Trier we were greeted by heavy April rain showers and beautiful spring blossoms.

We still had time to change into dry clothes in our sponsored hotels before driving back. We passed some of the impressive historic UNESCO sites of Trier before our reception in the City Hall.

Council member Mr. Michels welcomed us with very heartfelt words on behalf of the Mayor in the beautiful assembly hall, which used to be a monastery once.

He appreciated our efforts and ideals with warm words and spoke to us with great enthusiasm about the importance of transcending frontiers and the connecting power of sports, from his own experience and the City's history.

He was very happy to receive as a token of our gratitude the World Harmony Run Certificate, which he promised to present at the next city council meeting and hand it over to the Mayor.

As always we sang the World Harmony Run theme song at the end, which was recorded by local radio.

After a very nice interview the radio reporter also received the torch.

Trier was in the middle of the "Heilige Rock" (Holy Shirt) Pilgrim Festival, so we visited the famous Cathedral with a small team. A few of us went inside for a few silent moments and also stood at the relic. A security guard lady kindly offered to hold the flaming torch while we were inside and said she had never had so many contacts on duty as with the torch.

We liked the motto "Bringing together what was separated."

Gratitude to our hotel sponsors, who accomodated our runners in Trier: Hotel Arcadia, Hotel Mercure and Hotel am Zuckerberg.

One of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Trier, the famous Porta Nigra.

Kids from the Monessori children's house in Trier-Quint joined the Primary School kids to receive us.

Running to the Primary School of Trier-Quint on Friday morning.

The morning rain showers had stopped to allow a beautiful event to happen: we met with the kids outside in the schoolyard.

Feeling the harmony-flame in your heart...

Explaining to us beautifully what makes a good team - kids can be so bright!

Absolutely enthusiastic rendition of "He's got the hold world in his hands" and "We are the world, we are the children" by the kids and their music teacher for us.

A powerful penalty run around the schoolyard by a teacher to the delight of the kids, because he broke the rules of the country guessing game - where teachers are not allowed to help the kids guess our team members nationalities.

"We are the oneness and fulness of tomorrow's sun" - kdis acting out the World Harmony Run song with us.

"Run, run, run, run, run, run...."

Every kid imagined to be a torch-bearer ...

...and reality...

Passing the torch is always a highlight for the kids.

Putting a wish into the torch.

Kids love to be challenged!

Mrs Dominguez from the Montessori childrens' house and Mr. Birkel from the Primary School enjoyed the whole event tremendously. Thank you for having us!

The best part for the kids - and some teachers - at the end: running with the torch. We tried to make them run in teams and pass the torch on after a couple of steps.

Winding roads up and downhill in typical April joking weather: from sun to hailshowers...

Bitburg is famous not only for its beer but also for its Roman archeological sites and a number of international cultural events - here we are greeted by the mayor, Mr Kandels.

He told us about the city's international tradition and history, and offered us a nice city flag. He was clearly very inspired by the Haromony Run spirit.

The sun had come out again for a nice group picture in front of Bitburg City Hall.

And we could reach the next stop, St. Martin School, safely.

The school is a special needs school for students up to 18 years....

.. who participated with all their heart and great enthusiasm and joy.

The school has the same motto as the World Harmony Run, that everyone is important: "we help you so that you can help yourself"!

They put special emphasis on trying to make the children and teenagers strong and independent and devoloping their strengths.

The African style drumming performance, led by the head of the school, Mrs Mannitz, was terrific, and they told us they were going to perform shortly at the "Holy Shirt" Festival in Trier.

The schoolspeakers receiving the World Harmony Run certificate on behalf of the school and all the students.

Getting all the 6 animal stamps for the 6 continents is a very important part for the kids.

Posing with head of the school Mrs Mannitz in front of the beautiful school castle. While we were inside the rain had poured down, but now...!

Anyone can be part of the World Harmony Run or a friend of it - irrespective of age.

...after a beautiful run through the Eifel, Germany's most western region, we reached finally Prüm...

The city representative of Prüm Mr. Fößel received us warmly on behalf of the mayor.

A final group picture ended the intense day. Also special thanks to the "Bertrada Primary School" for hosting our team!

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Video Message from Davidson Hepburn, President (2009 - 2011) of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for 25th Anniversary of the World Harmony Run and a vision for the decade: "Toward a Oneness-World".

Full Text of the 25th annversary message and link to 25 language informal Translations: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/25

or Click on language button for separate youtube videos wth sub titles in varous languages

See also:

• Youtube video on African experience which illustrates IYY slogan "Our Year Our Voice" International Year of Youth - Zambia World Harmony. They surprisingly mention Presidents and UN Secretary-General in a unique way!

• Listen to the World-Harmony-Run song: 2 min version // 6 min

– Vasanti

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Distance: 77 km

Team Members:
Dipavajan Renner (Austria), Sandro Zincarini (Italy), Sumahat Strohn (Germany), Mladen Vujaklija (Croatia), Vladimir Ilyasov (Russian Federation), Namitabha Arsic (Serbia), Layamut Tehrani (Austria/Iran), Vasanti Niemz (Germany)

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.

Gallery: See more images!

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