Press Release - Thailand Temple Run - 1/24/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                         Contact: Roman Floesser
                                                  Event Manager
                                                  02 2376910 - 4
                                                  

        ING THAILAND TEMPLE RUN SET FOR NEW RECORD PARTICIPATION
            Number One Destination Marathon in Southeast Asia

The ING Thailand Temple Run in its 4th edition is set for a new record 
number of participants. The event will take place on 19 March in 
picturesque Samut Songkram. The event features a Marathon (42.2k), a Half 
Marathon (21.1k), a Fun Run (10.5k) and a Kids Run (1k) and is supported by 
the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

In a first for Thailand, the marathon will start in the afternoon at 4.30 
pm. This will allow for cultural performances to take place before the race 
to entertain spectators and runners alike. The start and finish line is 
located in Phumrinkudeethong Temple, Amphawa. 

The breathtaking course will lead runners through the beautiful countryside 
of Samut Songkram past many of the more than 100 temples, through banana 
and coconut plantations, past rice fields and through typical Thai 
villages. Thai cultural bands along the course will keep the runners 
entertained and motivated. 

With overseas registrations going strong the ING Thailand Temple Run is 
expected to retain its status as the Thai marathon with the most 
international runners and prove to be the number one destination marathon 
in Southeast Asia. More than 2000 runners among them 300 runners from at 
least 25 different countries are expected for the four different races. 

Race director Raimund Wellenhofer is very pleased with the preparations so 
far. "Apart from a few hick-ups here and there everything is going 
according to plan. Our main objective is to provide runners with a running 
as well as a cultural experience and encourage foreign runners to travel to 
Thailand for the race. In the past three years we have already built a good 
reputation in Thailand and on the international marathon scene and we are 
very proud of our achievements. All stakeholders involved, the local and 
international runners, the local community of Amphawa, the host temple, 
sponsors and volunteers have all been great in supporting the event".

The ING Thailand Temple Run is one of seven races of ING's Globerunners 
Program which also includes the ING New York Marathon, ING Amsterdam 
Marathon, ING Brussels Marathon, ING Edmonton Marathon, ING Ottawa Marathon 
and ING Taipei Marathon. ING is one of the world's largest financial 
services companies, offering banking, insurance and asset management in 
over 50 countries.

Highlights of the ING Thailand Temple Run will be broadcast all over Asia 
through Star World and UBC. 

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