DAMASCUS, Syria — The Syrian regime has recently been trying to portray life in areas under its control as glamorous, leading followers of the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) page and the Ministry of Tourism on Facebook to think that Syria is living a golden age characterized by prosperity, tranquility and recreational activities.

This seemed apparent in the latest promotional video the Syrian Ministry of Tourism posted on its Facebook page Oct. 20. In the video, Damascus is shot from a lit sky and appears calm and at its best, as if no war has ever targeted the city.

In the same context of promoting a distorted image of life in Damascus, the ministry had launched on Oct. 7 the “I love Damascus” marathon, under the supervision of the Damascus Youth Voluntary Team. The event, called the “Color Marathon,” came at the same time as World Smile Day and the October War Anniversary day.

Around 2,000 participants gathered in al-Jalaa Garden on the Mezze Highway in central Damascus wearing “I love Damascus” shirts specifically designed for the event. To the sound of songs coming out of Hummers and glorifying the army and the president, they walked to Umayyad Square, where they threw colored powder at each other in the presence of Syrian Minister of Tourism Bishr Yazigi. A big “I Love Damascus” sign was erected in the middle of the square.