By IANS
Dubai : Nine months after Dubai launched the world’s richest athletics event, the 2008 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon finally takes to the streets of the emirate on Friday with the biggest line-up in Middle East running history.
Over 11,000 runners from 92 nations will come together for a three-race card that will see the classic marathon distance of 42.2 km get underway at 7 a.m., WAM news agency reported Thursday.
A 10 km road race will get underway at 10.30 a.m. and a four kilometre fun run at 11.30 a.m.
The event is organised by the Dubai Sports Council. It is the richest marathon of all time with $1 million in prize money and a bonus $1 million on offer by Dubai Holding to any male or female athlete who breaks the current world record.
Ethiopian double Olympic champion and current marathon world record holder, Haile Gebrselassie will head the men’s field with a host of other elite distance runners.
Kenya’s Sammy Korir, the third fastest man in history and world half marathon champion Fabiano Joseph will also participate.
Last year’s winners, Willy Rotich and Askale Magarsa will return to defend their titles along with the Dubai record holder Askale.
“The event marks the Standard Chartered’s 50th anniversary in the UAE. And what better way to start our Golden Jubilee celebrations than with our fourth successive year of sponsoring the Dubai Marathon, now the richest marathon in the world,” said Nigel Jones, CEO of the Standard Chartered in UAE.
Standard Chartered’s global community initiative to prevent blindness, “Seeing is Believing”, will again be the beneficiary of the four kilometre charity run.
The global initiative aims to make a difference to ten million people in twenty countries by 2010. The proceeds from the four-kilometre run will be spent on eradicating avoidable blindness globally.
The races will get underway from Dubai’s Zabeel Park Gate Six. The finish line will be flanked by spectator stands as well as an entertainment village, where runners and their families can enjoy music, entertainment and children’s activities.
“Of course we are delighted to have Haile Gebrselassie competing for the first time in Dubai. However, amateur and part-time runners are equally important to us,” said event co-ordinator Peter Connerton.
“A great deal of attention will be on the marathon and a possible world record but we want all runners to enjoy the day no matter which distance they are running,” he added.
To help assist traffic on the day, 200 taxi cabs will operate from the car park opposite the main grandstand. Dubai RTA and the police and emergency services will also be on hand to ensure smooth running of the event.