Press Release - Phuket International Marathon - 10/10/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                   Contact: Roman Floesser
                                            Event Manager
                                            + 66 2236 2931
                                            

 Inaugural Phuket International Marathon set to take place on 11 June 2006
                         All proceeds going to charity

The inaugural Phuket International Marathon will be held on 11 June 2006 at 
the Laguna Resort, Phuket. With the slogan “Run Paradise” organizers 
encourage runners from around the world to participate in the Phuket 
International Marathon on Thailand’s world renown resort island of Phuket.

Some 3000 to 3500 participants are expected to compete in the event 
including an expected 1000 international participants. The marathon will be 
the climax of a week full of sporting activities on the island. The race 
will start and finish at the world class Laguna Phuket resort which also 
hosts Thailand’s leading triathlon, the Laguna Phuket Triathlon.

There will be a Marathon, a Half Marathon and a 10 Kilometer Run on offer 
and online registrations are now open. The early bird entry fee is US $50 
for the Marathon $US 40 for the Half Marathon and US$ 35 for the 10 
Kilometer Run. 

Charity will play a central role in the event with all proceeds going to 
charitable organizations. Organizers are currently in the process of 
identifying charities that will be supported through the event.

The hilly character of the Phuket landscape has presented the course 
designer with a challenge as finding a 42 kilometer long, flat stretch is 
difficult on the island. Nevertheless, organizers have come up with an 
attractive, flat course passing through the island’s lush vegetation and 
past some of Phuket’s famous beaches. Thai music bands will support the 
runners with typical Thai sounds along the way.

Less than a year after the devastating tsunami hit the island, Phuket has 
fully recovered from the aftermath of the disaster and is ready to welcome 
runners from around the world. Since July visitor arrivals have almost 
reached pre-tsunami levels and bookings for the high season in December and 
January are very strong. Phuket is back and for visitors it is again the 
tropical paradise it used to be.

The event is a member of the Association of Marathons and Road Races and 
will be organized by Bangkok-based sport marketing firm Go Adventure Asia. 
The company also co-organizes Thailand’s leading cultural marathon, the ING 
Thailand Temple Run.

For more information visit www.phuketmarathon.com.


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