Press Release - Gold Coast Marathon - 5/20/21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

             Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon 
    The Largest Mass Participation Event In The Country Since COVID-19

The Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon is back with a 
vengeance in 2021.

It will be the largest mass-participation event in Australia since COVID-19 
decimated the event and festival industry across the nation more than 12 
months ago. 

Entries are continuing to roll in ahead of the 4 June closing date and with 
the international borders remaining firmly shut, entrants are distinctly 
Australian and are travelling from every state and territory in the 
country.
 
With the lure of an all-Aussie line-up on the podium this year the elite 
athlete participation is looking exceptional with qualifying opportunities 
for World Championships 2022 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at 
stake.   

Australians haven't enjoyed a win in the Gold Coast Marathon since 2009 
when Lauren Shelley took out the female 42.195km event and in 2006 when Lee 
Troop won the men's event. 

Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe welcomed the return of the 
Gold Coast Marathon. "We know big events like the Gold Coast Marathon are 
important for supporting local jobs and our economic recovery," Mr 
Hinchliffe said. 

"The Gold Coast Marathon is shaping up as significant national event which 
is great news for accommodation providers and the Gold Coast's many 
world-class holiday experiences."  
 
Events Management Queensland CEO, Cameron Hart said they were anticipating 
between 16 – 20,000 runners this year for an event that might look and feel 
a little different to previous years, but it would be a fitting celebration 
of the return of community and mass participation events. 

"We have had to make some changes to accommodate the implementation of a 
COVID-safe plan however, I think people understand the need for some 
precautions in the best interest of everyone's health and wellbeing. 

"One of the biggest changes has been moving the ASICS half marathon from 
Sunday morning to Saturday morning. This means the number of people in the 
precinct and on the course is considerably less with the Village Roadshow 
Theme Parks Marathon still kicking off on the Sunday morning, but a little 
earlier than in previous years. 

"I am delighted that we have already attracted some of Australia's greatest 
marathon and wheelchair marathon and half marathon athletes.  With their 
sights on wearing the green and gold in 2022, we are set for some very 
serious racing. 

"There are also some wonderful stories coming through of people who started 
their running journey during COVID and were now looking to put all the 
training to the test in one of our eight events," Mr Hart said.

Whilst sporting events including the rugby league, netball and AFL have 
well and truly emerged from the pandemic to now host almost full stadiums, 
community participation events have been slower to return.
 
The Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon will be a shot in the 
arm for tourism on the Gold Coast and in Queensland with thousands of 
entrants expected to take advantage of the state's many and varied 
world-class attractions pre and post event. 

Destination Gold Coast and Events Management Queensland Chairman, Paul 
Donovan said whilst they would certainly miss the international competitors 
at this year's event the fact that Australians had really embraced the 
opportunity to compete again would make it a spectacular experience that 
will revitalise the event industry.

"Events like the Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon are 
crucial in showcasing the destination and delivering a significant economic 
impact to the region.

"We are grateful to our sponsors who are eager to get the show on the road 
and have remained committed to the event throughout the pandemic. We are 
collectively looking forward to being a part of a COVID-safe event delivery 
model that will be a catalyst for other mass participation events across 
the country in the future," Mr Donovan said. 

To accommodate the mailing of all participant race kits and cater for 
changes in supply chains entries for the Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold 
Coast Marathon and associated races will close at 11:59pm on Friday 4 June 
2021. 

The 42nd Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon will be held on 3 
- 4 July 2021. It will feature eight races including the Village Roadshow 
Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon (IAAF Label Road Race), Wheelchair 
Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Wheelchair 15km, Southern Cross University 
10km Run, Gold Coast Airport 5k Fun Run, Health and Wellbeing Queensland 
4km Junior Dash and 2km Junior Dash.

The Village Roadshow Theme Parks Gold Coast Marathon is organised by Events 
Management Queensland, a major event management company wholly owned by the 
Queensland Government as part of Tourism and Events Queensland.

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