Press Release - Gold Coast Airport Marathon - 11/4/11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                 Gold Coast Airport Marathon Inducted Into 
                  Queensland Tourism Awards Hall of Fame

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon was tonight (Friday 4 November) inducted 
into the Queensland Tourism Awards Hall of Fame at a gala ceremony at the 
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The annual Gold Coast major event won its third consecutive Queensland 
Tourism Award in the category of Major Festivals and Events meaning 
automatic induction into the prestigious Hall of Fame.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon received the award tonight for the 2010 
edition of the event which attracted close to 24,000 runners from 38 
countries.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will now be the Queensland representative 
in the Major Festivals and Events category at the Qantas Australian Tourism 
Awards to be held in Cairns in March.

The 2010 Gold Coast Airport Marathon was organised by Events Queensland 
Gold Coast, a major event management company wholly owned by the Queensland 
Government through Events Queensland.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh was thrilled with the win, highlighting the 
popularity of the Gold Coast event.

"The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is regarded as one of the leading holiday 
marathons in the world, showcasing what the Gold Coast has to offer to a 
national and international audience," said Ms Bligh.

"The 2010 event generated an economic impact of $43.59 million for 
Queensland, and more than 55,000 visitor nights – which is great for 
tourism, local businesses and jobs.

"Congratulations to Events Queensland Gold Coast for delivering another 
great event."

Chairman of Events Queensland Gold Coast Mr Kerry Watson said the award and 
induction into the Hall of Fame was recognition of the significant tourism 
impact the Gold Coast Airport Marathon generates for Queensland each year.

"The Gold Coast Airport Marathon has grown from an event for the local 
community back when it started in 1979 to become a real international event 
tourism success story.

"The team at Events Queensland Gold Coast and our loyal and dedicated 
volunteers, with the support of Events Queensland, Gold Coast City Council 
and our major sponsors led by Gold Coast Airport, deliver a magnificent 
event for the runners and spectators.

"In 2010, nearly 8,000 of our 24,000 runners came from interstate and 
overseas and brought additional family and friends which showcases the 
significant tourism impact the event has for Queensland."

Events Queensland CEO John O'Sullivan said this year's Gold Coast Airport 
Marathon received a record-breaking number of participants and continued to 
be a signature event on the Queensland calendar.

"We look forward to seeing more participants on the starting line next year 
when the 34th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon takes place on 30 June and 
1 July 2012."

Some key facts about the 2010 Gold Coast Airport Marathon:

- Total number of entries were 23,812 from 38 countries. This was nearly 
triple the field of the 2001 Gold Coast Airport Marathon which drew 7,960.
- There were 7,793 participants from outside Queensland including 2,128 
from overseas.
- The event generated an economic impact of $43.59 million for Queensland 
and more than 55,000 visitor nights.
- The race program was held over two days for the first time in its 32 year 
history.
- More than 120 media attended the event. A live webcast and a one-hour 
post-produced television program exposed the event and destination 
worldwide.

The 34th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on 30 June – 1 
July 2012.

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