[Hong Kong, 3 October 2011] Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited and the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association (HKAAA) announced at a press conference held today that the 16th annual Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon will take place on Sunday, 5 February 2012. The upcoming Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon will increase its enrolment quota to 70,000 runners. To accommodate more participants, new running sections will be incorporated into the route for both the Half Marathon and Full Marathon races. Total prize money for the Marathon has been raised to US$227,000, as part of continued incentives to attract more elite runners from overseas.

In response to overwhelming enthusiasm from participants, event organizer HKAAA and title sponsor Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited are pleased to announce an increase in the quota for the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012 to 70,000 – up from 65,000 in 2011. Of the 5,000 newly added places, 2,000 have been allocated for the Half Marathon and 3,000 for the Full Marathon. The quota for the 10km race will remain unchanged.

Benjamin Hung, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited said, "Standard Chartered Hong Kong is honoured to be the title sponsor of the Hong Kong Marathon for the sixteenth consecutive year. We are glad that it has become the highest participatory sporting event in Hong Kong and a world-class race with almost half a million participation since 1997. Our theme for this year is "Run for a Reason" and we hope runners will actively encourage donations from their friends and families in support of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012 Charity Programme. We will recognize the top 100 fundraisers participating in the 2012 charity programme as a symbol of our thanks to the community."

Mr. Alex Moh, President of the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association said, "The Marathon has recently been recognized as a Bronze Label Road Race by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). This is a testament that the Hong Kong Marathon is now recognized by the world governing body for athletics and internationally as a world-class race. With the record-high prize money of US$227,000, we hope more elite international runners will be attracted to the Marathon in Hong Kong. Part of the sections for Half and Full Marathon races will be changed to widen the race route, allowing more runners to enjoy the experience of marathon running on a better course."

For the Half and Full Marathon races, however, the section from Connaught Road West in Central to Fenwick Pier in Wanchai will be rerouted through Man Po Street, Man Yiu Street and Lung Wo Road before turning into Fenwick Pier Street. The new section - together with its proximity to the waterfront - will provide favourable conditions for runners to perform their best. The route for the 10km Run will remain unchanged, starting near City Garden in Island Eastern Corridor and running along the Island Eastern Corridor. All races will end at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.

To encourage public participation in the community, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon Charity Programme will continue to support three charitable organizations: Standard Chartered's global initiative "Seeing is Believing", the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled and the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society. As an added incentive, the top 100 fundraisers for the 2012 Marathon will have free and early registration for the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2013.

As part of the social responsibility to ensure diversity through inclusion, the 2012 Marathon will include a Full Marathon Wheelchair race and a special 3km Wheelchair race. For safety reasons, participants in the 3km Wheelchair race must first take part in a 3km Wheelchair Track Trial to be held on 18 December 2011. The trial will ensure that wheelchair participants meet the physical requirements set out by the organizer. Full Marathon Wheelchair participants should be classified in T53 or T54 classification issued by the International Paralympic Committee or equivalent standards when they submit their application forms.

This year, The Leaders Cup - a 1.8km race for business and community leaders - will continue to raise funds for Standard Chartered's "Seeing is Believing", a global initiative to fight avoidable blindness.

Registration for the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012 opens today and closes on 30 November 2011. Applicants can register online via the official website (www.hkmarathon.com). The online application process provides a more convenient and environmentally conscious option than registration by post. The entry fee for local and overseas runners is HK$300. Entry quotas will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. The event organizer reserves the right to advance the deadline for registration. Information about the Marathon is available on the official website or by calling the event hotline on 2577 0800.

Other sponsors of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012 include Western Harbour Tunnel Company Limited, Citizen Watches (H.K.) Limited, Watsons Water, Xtep International Holdings Limited, Crown Motors Limited, Regal Hotels International, PURE Fitness, POAD Group Limited, and RYDERS EYEWEAR by murk and tinted. Supporting organizations include the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Transport Infrastructure Management Limited, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Information Services Department. The event is recognized by the Major Sports Events Committee as a Hong Kong major sport event as well as a Brand Hong Kong event. .

Photo 1
Benjamin Hung, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited invited runners to "Run for a Reason" in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012.

Photo 2
(From left to right) Kwan Kee, Chairman of the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association, Alex Moh, President of the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association, Benjamin Hung, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Hong Kong and William Ko, Chairman of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012 Organizing Committee kick off the registrationof the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012.

Released on behalf of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited by ActionHouse International.

This press release is released by Action House International on behalf of Organizing Committee of Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2012.

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For more information, please contact:

ActionHouse International
Prudence Tsang (3102 8105) / Eva Kan (3102 8117)
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