Press Release - Gold Coast Airport Marathon - 1/31/12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       Gold Coast Airport Boosts Marathon with Three-year Sponsorship

In a massive boost for major events in Queensland, Premier Anna Bligh today 
announced Gold Coast Airport has extended its naming rights sponsorship of 
the annual Gold Coast Marathon for a further three years. 

"Gold Coast Airport will continue as naming rights sponsor of the award 
winning and internationally acclaimed Gold Coast Airport Marathon in 2012, 
2013 and 2014," said Ms Bligh. 

"Gold Coast Airport first signed on as naming rights sponsor for the 2003 
Marathon and the new deal will take its sponsorship of the event through to 
a 12th year in 2014." 

The Premier said the partnership would continue to deliver more visitors to 
the Gold Coast. 

"The Queensland Government will continue to back the Gold Coast Airport 
Marathon," said Ms Bligh. 

"Gold Coast Airport has made a significant investment in this major 
Queensland event and I thank them for their commitment to an event that 
continues to grow and draw visitors from interstate and overseas. 

"Since Gold Coast Airport commenced its sponsorship, entries have risen 
from 9,494 in 2002 to 24,725 last year. 

"The sponsorship by Gold Coast Airport has enabled the event to increase 
its numbers significantly from interstate and reach key international 
markets particularly Japan, New Zealand and South East Asia. 

"Last year this led the Gold Coast Airport Marathon to deliver an economic 
impact of $39.45 million for Queensland including nearly 50,000 visitor 
nights. 

"Hosting major events like this are part of our plan to continue building 
Queensland's bright future. 

"With the continued support of the Gold Coast Airport, the Gold Coast 
Airport Marathon will continue to be one of the City's international 
showcase events in the lead-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games." 

Gold Coast Airport Managing Director Dennis Chant said the Gold Coast 
Airport was very proud of its 10 year partnership with the Gold Coast 
Airport Marathon. 

"Both Gold Coast Airport and the Gold Coast Airport Marathon have enjoyed 
rapid growth since our first year as naming rights sponsor and we continue 
to share our main goals - to grow tourism for the region and set benchmarks 
in our respective industries that attract worldwide attention," said Mr 
Chant.

"The Gold Coast Airport Marathon allows Gold Coast Airport to demonstrate 
to other corporate entities a commitment to fostering events that showcase 
this region to the world and involve the community as a whole.

"Sponsorship of this event has certainly helped our airport grow and is 
credited with helping us secure direct daily flights to Japan, after we 
started with charter services specifically for the marathon some years ago. 

"Gold Coast Airport management and staff are thrilled to continue our 
sponsorship of this iconic event and look forward to continuing our strong 
working relationship with Events Queensland."

Events Queensland CEO John O'Sullivan said the sponsorship by Gold Coast 
Airport would cement the Gold Coast Airport Marathon's reputation as a key 
event on the Queensland calendar.

"The support of Gold Coast Airport over the past 10 years has helped 
elevate the Gold Coast Airport Marathon to become one of the world's most 
desirable running events.

"Events help build resilience in tourism and this is a great example of how 
an event and a sponsor can work together towards this goal." 

Events Queensland Gold Coast Chairman Kerry Watson welcomed the sponsorship 
renewal as the start of another big year for the Gold Coast Airport 
Marathon. 

"I acknowledge the tremendous support the Gold Coast Airport has provided 
over a long term and has committed to provide for at least another three 
years.

"This sponsorship will boost our activity in key markets interstate and 
overseas particularly in Japan, New Zealand and Asia where we have recently 
secured some major partnerships with other marathon events."

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is owned and managed by Events Queensland 
Gold Coast, a subsidiary of Events Queensland on behalf of the Queensland 
Government.

Gold Coast Airport is a key component of the portfolio of airports owned by 
Queensland Airports Limited that also includes the gateways of Townsville 
and Mount Isa. 

The 34th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on 30 June to 1 
July this year. The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is a finalist in the Qantas 
Australian Tourism Awards to be held on 2 March.

Visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au 

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