Instead of a starting gun (which may cause alarm inside the embassy) we started the race by singing the Edwin Starr classic
"War!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!"
As a curtesy to the personnel inside the embassy we replaced the word "War" with the words "Special Military Operation" to which they are more accustomed.
![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YaIndw1ExZc/maxresdefault.jpg)