2004-12-14
Speech for Peter Sullivan
Chief Executive Officer
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited
Standard Chartered Marathon 2005 Ambassador Announcement

Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues and members of the press,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to today's marathon ambassador and charity star announcement for the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2005; the first of my tenure as Chief Executive Officer.

Over the years it has been my privilege to watch the Standard Chartered Marathon continue to grow and prosper from afar, and I am excited at today's opportunity to not just continue the Bank's strong support.

We are fortunate to have enlisted some strong support in our quest to make the Standard Chartered Marathon 2005 "Everyone's Marathon", most especially from our new celebrity ambassadors, Mr Alex Fong and Ms Do Do Cheng.

With their healthy and sporty image and personal and professional success, I am confident that Alex and Do Do's support will help maintain the streak of increasing Marathon participation in every year of our sponsorship since 1997.

Last year we set a participation record with over 24,000 runners. Inspired by this success, we are setting our sights on achieving a new personal best for the Standard Chartered Marathon 2005 and encouraging even more people in the community to take part and embrace a healthy and active lifestyle.

Speaking of inspiring people to push themselves to their limits and beyond, it is also my pleasure and privilege to introduce another very special guest this afternoon, Henry Wanyoike, the winner of the Standard Chartered Marathon's Men's Open Half Marathon in 2004.

Since losing his sight literally overnight several years ago, Henry has gone on to set record after record with performances that have marked him as one of the world's most versatile and accomplished runners.

His running success has been matched by his accomplishments in raising funds for charities that assist the visually impaired in Henry's home Kenya and around the world. Standard Chartered Bank proudly salutes Henry for his efforts, which have proved that disability does not mean inability. In here, we shouldn't neglect his companion, Joseph Kibunja who always gives him support.

With the Bank's assistance, Henry has already been able to take part in several Standard Chartered Marathons around the world. His past performances in Standard Chartered Marathons and other major distance races around the world have proved that he is one of the world's elite natural runners, but even more importantly, they have inspired everyone who has ever seen him run.

On behalf of Standard Chartered Bank and all of my colleagues in Hong Kong and around the world, I would like to thank Do Do, Alex and Henry for being here today. I am confident that their support to the Standard Chartered Marathon in 2005 will not only raise the profile of the event, but inspire more people around Hong Kong to lace up their trainers and take part.

I would also like to thank the entire staff of Standard Chartered in Hong Kong for their continuing support, as well as the event organizer, the Hong Kong Amateur Athletics Association, and the Hong Kong Government for their professionalism, and dedication to ensuring another smooth and successful run in 2005.

Finally, thank you all for attending today and for your support not just to the Marathon but to a healthier and happier Hong Kong.

I look forward to seeing you all at the finish on 27th February, 2005.

~Ends~