2007-10-25
New Route for 2008 Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon
Inspire Hong Kong People to Enjoy Running

[Hong Kong, 25 October 2007]: Standard Chartered Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association (HKAAA) are sounding the starter pistol on the 12th annual Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, which is scheduled on Sunday, 17 February 2008.

This year 10km Race will be relocated to the Hong Kong Island and running along the Island Eastern Corridor; meanwhile the finish area of all three races (marathon, half marathon and 10km race) will be at the Victoria Park at Causeway Bay, allowing more spectators to cheer for the participants.

The Marathon Organizers have been striving to promote marathon and distance running by encouraging the general public participation and reinforcing the understanding of marathon sports among them. It is expected to attract a huge crowd of 50,000 local and international entrants this year.

Mr. Peter Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Standard Chartered Hong Kong, commented on today's announcement, saying, Standard Chartered is proud to sponsor the Hong Kong Marathon for the 12th exciting year in 2008 as well as seeing the growing awareness of the Marathon over the years. Along with the exponential increase in participation, it shows that more and more Hong Kong people are becoming eager to take part in sporting activities and pursue a healthy lifestyle. This is also the aim we sponsor this activity. Entering the 12th years of Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, we hope to add new elements and joyfulness by including a new route for 10km race and move the finishing point to a new area so as to further motivate the general public and the community to participate in it.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kwan Kee, Senior Vice Chairman of the HKAAA also announced that the 11th Asian Marathon Championship will again be held in Hong Kong in conjunction with the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, which proven the recognition and commendation of the event from the region and internationally.

The Full Marathon and Half-Marathon will again follow its famed urban route starting at Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, run along Canton Road, West Kowloon Highway (south bound), and turning after crossing Cheung Tsing Tunnel (Kowloon Bound) and Ting Kau Bridge (Kowloon Bound) and joined the Half Marathon at Western Harbour Tunnel towards Hong Kong Island. Runners will continue to run through the business districts of Central, Admiralty, Wanchai and Causeway Bay, the busiest district and finish at the Victoria Park.

The 10km Race will offer a brand new experience at Island Eastern Corridor. Entrants will start and run along North Point, Quarry Bay, Taikoo Shing and Sai Wan Ho, and turning at Shau Kei Wan back towards the finish at Victoria Park.

The prize money of US$70,000 for full marathon is on offer while Standard Chartered Hong Kong will continue to present its special prize purse of HK$144,000 to be shared by the top three finishers who are Hong Kong Permanent Residents in each age category of the Marathon, Half-Marathon and 10km race. A Time Bonus scheme has also been established to encourage local runners in the full marathon. Hong Kong Permanent Residents finishing the Marathon 3:00:00 or under for men and 3:30:00 or under for women will each receive HK$1,000.

The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2008 again serves the final race of Standard Chartered's global marathon sponsorship initiative, the Greatest Race On Earth (GROE). Launched in 2004, the GROE sees teams of marathon runners chasing the fastest cumulative time over four Standard Chartered marathons around the world for a total prize purse US$1,080,000. This year's GROE includes Standard Chartered marathons in Nairobi, Singapore, Mumbai and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is sending two teams of elite distance runners (names below), of which the women's team on debut, to compete for the glory of Hong Kong.

As a worldwide activity, this year's GROE hopes to further promote and communicate the message of environmental protection across the world with the unbeatable spirit of the marathon sports. Standard Chartered, working in partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has launched the campaign "Race for the Living Planet - Environment Pledge" to encourage the public to select and undertake up to eight environment pledges, and then nominate the GROE nation they wish their pledge(s) to support. As soon as collecting all the votes from athletes and the public, the top three nations with the highest total participation rate per capita will receive a grant of US$1,000,000 from Standard Chartered for environmental projects.

Registration for this year's Marathon will commence today (25 October, 2007). A special Early Bird Registration Fee will be offered to local and overseas runners (HK$270 and HK$290 respectively) who register on or before 30 November 2007. Entry forms are available at the HKAAA office (Room 2015, Olympic House, 1 Stadium Path, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong), District Leisure Services Office and all Standard Chartered Bank branches in Hong Kong. Applicants can register online at the official website at www.hkmarathon.com. For more information, please visit the official website or call the official hotline on 2577 0800.

Standard Chartered Hong Kong is in its 12th years of title sponsorship to the Hong Kong Marathon. Additional sponsors and supporting parties include: New Balance Athletic shoes (Hong Kong) Limited, Watsons Water, Citizen Watches (HK) Limited, Crown Motors Ltd., iDS (Hong Kong) Ltd., LLA Consultancy Ltd., Hong Kong Tourism Board, Information Services Department, Western Harbour Tunnel Co. Ltd. and Transport Infrastructure Management Ltd.