FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REGISTRATION HEATS UP FOR 2009 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON
- Thousands Expected To Run Streets of Dubai with
Haile Gebrselassie in January -
- Entries Close on December 15 -
Dubai (UAE): Runners from across the world have been quick to sign up for
the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon following the announcement that
Haile Gebrselassie will launch an attempt on his own world record time in
the emirate.
Entries for the event, scheduled for January 16, 2009, continue to rise as
competitors sign up for the full marathon, the popular 10km event and the
3km Fun Run through the event's official website www.dubaimarathon.org.
Runners of all ages can only register online or visit any branch of Fitness
First in Dubai. Details of all branches of Fitness First are available at
www.fitnessfirst.ae.
Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice
President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and staged under
the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council, this year's Dubai Marathon saw
Ethiopian legend Gebrselassie set the then second fastest marathon time in
history and narrowly miss out on a record US$1 million bonus.
Gebrselassie – fresh from setting a new world best of 2h:03m:59s in Berlin
last month – has already confirmed he will have another attempt at landing
the biggest prize in athletics in January, a move that is already
encouraging even more amateur names to sign up for the entry list.
"The 2008 event was the best in the history of the Dubai Marathon and we
are looking forward to a record turnout in 2009," said Event Director Peter
Connerton. "Thanks to the support of title sponsors Standard Chartered as
well as our other supporters such as Dubai Holding, who are again offering
US$1 million for a new world record, and the regular appearance of athletes
such as Haile, Dubai is now well established as a leading marathon venue in
world athletics."
Despite registration opening three months before the start gun, Ahmed Al
Kamali, Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon General Co-ordinator, President
of the UAE Athletics Federation and Al Ahli Club Board Member, urged UAE
runners not to be slow in signing up for the event. "We will close
registrations on December 15 around one month before the race in order to
finalise numbers and ensure we have all the necessary logistics in place to
handle the exact number of runners," he said.
While organisers continue to work behind the scenes on assembling a
powerful field for next year's marathon, event sponsors Standard Chartered
are calling on the UAE public to put on their running shoes and get into
training for all three race categories.
"Standard Chartered has been the title sponsor of the Dubai Marathon for
the last four years and we are excited about our fifth year as sponsors in
2009. The Dubai marathon has grown into an international success story
that reaches out to every member in our local UAE community," said Shayne
Nelson, Standard Chartered Regional CEO, Middle East and North Africa.
"The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, the 10km race and the 3km 'Seeing
is Believing' Fun Run are great ways to get fit as well as raise money and
awareness for local and international charities. For us, the marathon is a
key component of the Bank's community strategy as we help to raise
awareness about the rise of diabetes in the region, and how we can
effectively combat this illness through regular exercise.
Those who take the challenge to participate in any one of the runs has the
potential to make a significant difference. I look forward to welcoming
thousands of athletes of all ages, nationalities and abilities to the
starting line on January 16 next year."
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