Press Release - Gold Coast Airport Marathon - 7/7/14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

            Gold Coast Airport in for the Marathon Long Haul 

Events Management Queensland, organisers of the Gold Coast Airport 
Marathon, and Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd (GCAPL) have today announced an 
extension of the 12 year naming rights partnership of the two 
organisations.

Gold Coast Airport  will remain as the naming rights sponsor to the 
historical marathon race for the next three years, bringing the already 
rock solid relationship to a record breaking 15th year in 2017.

The announcement comes after Sunday's historic Gold Coast Airport Marathon, 
which saw Rob de Castella's 32-year-old Australian all-comers record broken 
by Kenyan marathon debutant Silah Limo in 2:09:14. 

Gold Coast Airport Managing Director Dennis Chant announced the signing of 
the new agreement this morning.

"Gold Coast Airport is extremely proud of our 12 year naming rights 
association with the Gold Coast Airport Marathon," Mr Chant said. 

"During this time both Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast Airport Marathon 
have enjoyed rapid growth. We continue to share our main goals of growing 
tourism for the region and setting benchmarks in our respective industries 
that gain international recognition.

"We have witnessed the continued growth of the event in terms of entry 
numbers, community participation and support, and international interest; 
culminating in the receipt of an International Association of Athletics 
Federations (IAAF) Road Race Gold Label, making Gold Coast Airport Marathon 
the first marathon in Australia to receive this accolade.

"Each year, set against the beautiful backdrop of our coastline, thousands 
of spectators line the streets to cheer on competitors. This event truly 
encapsulates the spirit of the Gold Coast.

"Gold Coast Airport Marathon allows Gold Coast Airport to demonstrate to 
other corporate entities our commitment to fostering events that showcase 
this region to the world and involve the community as a whole.

"We have greatly enjoyed and valued our 12 year history with this event and 
look forward to playing a continued role in Gold Coast Airport Marathon's 
ongoing success over the coming years."

Since Gold Coast Airport commenced its sponsorship of the iconic event, 
entries have risen from 9,494 in 2002 to 27,159 registered for the event on 
the weekend.

The partnership has enabled the event to increase its numbers significantly 
from interstate and in particular allow the collaboration of the two 
organisations to see direct flights and increased load numbers from key 
international markets.

The announcement has further buoyed the already elated Gold Coast Airport 
Marathon team after what has arguably been the most successful event in the 
race's 36-year-history.

"The long standing support we have received from the Gold Coast Airport has 
undoubtedly helped to put this event on the map," explained Chairman of 
Events Management Queensland, Kerry Watson. 

"It's not just the financial contribution provided - it's the determination 
of the GCAPL team to leverage their vast aviation industry connections, 
particularly throughout Asia to open up new markets for us to attract 
visitors to the event. For example, their work in Malaysia and Singapore to 
bring Scoot and AirAsia flights directly into the Gold Coast has brought 
nearly 500 international runners to the even this weekend.

"Many years ago we united in a vision to not only grow the event into the 
elite standard that you saw last weekend, but to collaborate from a 
marketing perspective to increase the international number of participants 
in order to grow the tourism market for the Gold Coast. 

"The re-signing of our partnership agreement just shows that the formula 
has worked. In 2014 we have seen the largest international numbers in the 
history of the event. By working together and making the event far more 
accessible to our key markets we have seen the growth we had both 
envisioned." 

                                   ###