MUSCAT: Following overwhelming interest last year, the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon will now be part of an extended two-day festival of running to be held on January 18 and 19, 2018, the organisers said on Monday.
In 2018, the Al Mouj Muscat Marathon aims to further its mission to drive inbound tourism, officially opening registration for the seventh edition and launching an exciting new format for the event at a press conference on Monday at the Al Mouj Muscat Sales Centre. A new logo for the event was also on display for the first time, a striking and contemporary image that will communicate the event in graphic form to a global market.
On January 18, Thursday, the opening day, will be dedicated to a Kids Run for greater engagement with the next generation of runners. While Friday will see the established Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km Race complimented by two new categories: A Charity Fun Run and a Marathon Relay open to teams of four to six runners who will each run part of the full 42km course.
Building on the success of a record field in 2017, the Muscat Marathon will again benefit from the successful partnership of Oman Sail and Muscat Road Runners, the continued support of title sponsor Al Mouj Muscat, and has received a boost from Tanfeedh, the Omani government’s economic diversification project, which has embraced the fast-growing global sports tourism sector as one of its key initiatives.
“Our partnership with Oman Sail, and the title sponsorship of Al Mouj Muscat, has enabled the event to reach new heights.” said Ahmed al Malki, Chairman of Muscat Road Runners.
“In 2017, the marathon took place on one day and saw participants more than double from the 2016 race, from 600 to 1,290. Of this, the number of Omani runners increased from 51 in 2016 to 246 earlier this year. This phenomenal increase shows the appetite of the Omani people to try new activities, dedicate themselves to training and push themselves to excel.”
“Our continuing sponsorship of the Muscat Marathon reflects our belief in the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, which is a key community objective at Al Mouj Muscat. Al Mouj Muscat with its’ world class facilities, has enabled the sultanate to host international sport events,” said Nasser al Sheibani, CEO.
Oman Sail also emphasised that its goals and ambitions were in alignment with Muscat Road Runners, Al Mouj Muscat, the Ministry of Tourism and Tanfeedh.
“In January this year we built on the foundations of a successful event established over several years by Muscat Road Runners. In 2018, we are going further in promoting the marathon to attract more local, regional and international runners,” said David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail.
In the new running categories, the Marathon Relay is primarily aimed at corporate teams but is open to everybody. The Kids Run will feature three courses: 1km for children born in 2010 and 2011; 2.5km for those born in 2008 and 2009; and 4km for those born 2006 and 2007.
For the 5km Charity Fun Run, an official charity organisation will be identified and announced to allow competitors to run for a cause.
The 2018 Al Mouj Muscat Marathon routes are currently being finalised. An announcement will follow. The registration for the 2018 Al Mouj Muscat Marathon can be done at http://muscatmarathon.om
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