Standard Chartered sponsors Dubai Marathon for three more years

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon will take place on January 12, 2007.

'There are less than three months to go until Dubai's biggest sporting event hits the city's streets, so it's time to start the training schedules,' said Niall McLoughlin, Regional Head of Corporate Affairs for Middle East and Pakistan, Standard Chartered, one of the leading international banks in the UAE.

'We believe businesses should have a direct and positive involvement in the communities we live and work in. Our sponsorship of the Dubai Marathon over the next three years supports this vision.'

The number of runners competing in the 3km, 10km and full marathon has doubled over the past two years and event organisers fully expect a new record number of entries in 2007.

And with a brand new route about to be unveiled that will see the marathon runners pass the iconic Burj Al Arab for the first time, the 2007 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon is set to take regional distance running to a new and improved level.

'The goal has always been to establish the Dubai Marathon as one of the leading events on the UAE sporting calendar,' said Event Organiser Peter Connerton.

'Thanks to the ongoing support of Standard Chartered, we have been able to achieve that goal. With their renewed support, it is now our aim to enhance and further develop the event by raising the bar in terms of runners, route and organisation.'

In addition to the full marathon, the event also includes a 10km road race and a 3km charity run for 'Seeing is Believing', Standard Chartered's global initiative, ' to alleviate blindness around the world.

Other family attractions around the day include a carnival, a kids' painting competition and a school 'Battle of the Bands' competition.

Standard Chartered sponsors seven major marathons globally across four continents - in Nairobi (Africa), Singapore, Mumbai, Hong Kong (Asia), Jersey (Europe), Falkland Islands (South America) and Dubai (Middle East).

'We are leading the way in improving the health of UAE society through our involvement with the Dubai Marathon and raising money for a good cause,' added McLoughlin.

Earlier this year, Standard Chartered raised Dh45,000 for the global 'Seeing is Believing' charity through sponsorship of corporate teams from the Bank, while Owen Belman, Head of Consumer Banking for UAE & Oman also personally raised more than US$ 60,000 through sponsorship for his maiden marathon run.

In the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2006 in February, Kenyan runners Joseph Kiprotech Ngeny and Delilah Osiago struck double gold for the powerhouse nation of distance running with victory in both the men and women's events at the 2006 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. And McLoughlin is expecting another memorable race in 2007.

'It takes an exceptional individual to take part in a marathon, and we believe such individuals reflect the strength, determination and courage of the Standard Chartered global brand,' he said.