FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brunei Tourism
+673 238 28 22
ASIA'S MOST GRUELING MARATHON RUN TO BE STAGED IN BRUNEI
The 1ST BRUNEI MARATHON - SHAHBANDAR CHALLENGE, a gruelling 42km long
Marathon to be run in the tropical heat over asphalt, a sandy beach and
hilly jungle paths, will be staged for the 1st time on Sunday 11 December
2005 near Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital city of the tiny jungle clad,
oil rich Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam.
With the intention of becoming an annual event not to be missed by the
worldwide running community, this new race, organized by local outfit
Excellence Event Management with support from Brunei Tourism, the Ministry
of Culture, Youth and Sports and a number of local sponsors and supporting
organizations, is also sanctioned by the Brunei Amateur Athletic
Association, and run in accordance with the International Association of
Athletic Federations Rules & Regulations.
Being staged a week after the well established Singapore Marathon held in
the nearby city-state connected daily by short 2-hour direct flights to
Brunei, the race is expected to attract a large crowd of local enthusiasts,
as well as a significant international field.
With prizes totaling nearly USD300 thousand, and top prizes of USD30
thousand for the Men and Ladies categories of the full Marathon, this race
is considered as one of the richest in Asia. The race will be divided into
Men and Ladies categories for full Marathon (42km), ¾ Marathon (33km),
Veteran (21km), Students (21km) and Fun Runners (5.5km), with Open and
Brunei classes for the full and ¾ Marathons, all with attractive cash
prizes, as well as finishers medals, participant certificates, and
T-shirts, caps and souvenirs for all participants, who will also be invited
to a closing dinner and award presentation, complete with a Brunei cultural
show.
Starting and finishing at the palatial Empire Hotel & Country Club, the
race will test the runners' endurance as they will run a stretch on the
soft sands of Tungku beach along the South China Sea shore, and another
going up and down the hills of the Bukit Shahbandar Forest Reserve, as well
as along smooth stretches of asphalted roads.
Each runner will be electronically tagged using the ChampionChip system to
ensure precise time keeping, and with the assistance of well trained
officials and volunteers, as well as the army and police, the organization
is expected to be of top standards, ensuring a memorable experience to both
local and international participants.
Registration fees start at USD100 for the Open Class Full Marathon, down to
BND40 (about USD24) for the Fun Runners. For overseas runners, packages
inclusive of registration, accommodation and transportation will be offered
by the official Tour Operator, as well as optional tours for participants
and accompanying persons wishing to discover the tourist attractions of
Brunei.
More information on the race, the packages and the registration process can
be found on the Marathon's website at : www.bruneimarathon.com or by
emailing to : , whereas information on Brunei can
be found on Brunei Tourism's website at : www.tourismbrunei.com.
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Brunei Darussalam, a peaceful and wealthy kingdom on the northern shores of
Borneo, is known for having one of the most pristine tropical rainforest
environments anywhere, as well as for the pomp and opulence of its
centuries old monarchy, steeped in ancient Malay traditions.
With easy international direct access through its Royal Brunei Airlines
carrier, and with an up-market product and image appealing to discerning
travelers, Brunei is an exciting new destination waiting to be discovered.
Brunei Tourism is the Tourism Development Division of Brunei's Ministry of
Industry and Primary Resources, in charge of the international promotion
and marketing of Brunei as a tourism destination.
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