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Dubai
, UAE - January 15, 2008:
With the world’s richest ever marathon offering a cool $1 million bonus for a new world record, media interest in the 2008 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon has never been greater with over 100 million homes expected to watch the drama unfold over 42.2km of the highways of Dubai.
Filmed exclusively by Dubai Sports Channel as part of its new five-year deal between the broadcaster and the event, the race will be seen by viewers of Sky Sports (UK and Ireland), Supersport (Africa), Fox Sports (Australia), Ten Sports (Indian subcontinent, Middle East, Indonesia and Hong Kong), Starhub Singapore, Showtime Middle East and North Africa and, of course, Dubai Sports Channel.
“The interest in the event is at an all time high and footage will also reach over 100 countries across the globe through a number of internationally distributed programmes such as Show World of Athletics” said Event Director Peter Connerton.
With world record holder Haile Gebrselassie making his last marathon appearance before chasing Olympic gold later in the year in Beijing, athletics fans are eager to see if the little Ethiopian can break his world best of 2:04:26 and sprint off with the $1 million bonus cheque.
And with a field that also includes Sammy Korir, Lorna Kiplagat, Berhane Adere and last year’s winners Willy Rotich and Askale Tafa Magarsa, the media interest is understandable.
Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and staged under the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon will see over 1,000 runners compete over a classic distance that will take them along the coast of the sun-kissed emirate and past some of the world’s most iconic new developments.
Writers, photographers and TV crews have descended on the city in their dozens in a manner normally only associated with sports such as football, golf, cricket and tennis.
“Haile Gebrselassie is a sporting legend who attracts the media wherever he runs,” said Event General Co-ordinator Ahmad Al Kamali. “Add in the fact that he is running in the sport’s richest-ever race in one of the world’s most exciting cities and it is understandable why so many media have decided to cover the event.”
In addition to film crews from Europe and Asia, the marathon has attracted writers from countries such as Brazil, Mexico, USA, Germany, UK and Japan as the global media focuses on a slight 34 year-old African who breaks world bests with apparent ease and heads to Dubai focused on record number 27.
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