Dubai Marathon among world's best claims leading athletics Chief

Dr Federico Rosa, Executive Manager of Rosa Associati - the Italian-based organisation managing an elite field of over 200 athletes including runners such as Marathon world record holder Paul Tergat, two-time New York Marathon winner Margaret Okayo and current London Marathon champion Martin Lel - was speaking in Germany while attending the 2005 Berlin Marathon.

"The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon has everything in place to make it one of the best on the circuit," said Rosa. "To have so many still in the hunt at the 30km mark and to have ten athletes finish the race in under 2h:12m as the race did earlier this year is a great testimony to the quality of the field in Dubai and certainly puts it among the top ten in the world."

Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Minister of Defence and Crown Price of Dubai, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2006 will get underway on January 6. And with a record field of well over 5,000 runners expected for the Marathon, the 10km and 3km fun run, Rosa is anticipating yet another landmark event in Dubai sport.

"Obviously established Marathon venues like New York, London and Boston are part of history and have their own traditions but Dubai is certainly considered by many athletes as an event that is high on their list of events to run," added Rosa.

"Many athletes see Dubai as a great venue to set a personal best. Runners like to be treated well and in Dubai they receive all the backing that helps them run to the best of their ability. The official hotel is among the top three in the world that hosts Marathon runners, while the excellent infrastructure, organisation and logistics mean we have little to worry about except the running itself."

Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon organiser Peter Connerton was understandably delighted with Rosa's backing of the event.

"Dr Rosa has around 200 athletes, six training camps and travels around the world to Olympics, World Championships and Grand Prix meetings so for him to praise the Dubai race in such a way is a great compliment," he said.

"A great deal of credit for that must go to the Dubai authorities whose superb assistance allows the UAE to stage an event that truly benefits the world of athletics and establishes Dubai in yet another sporting field."