FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jen Buford
Carey O'Donnell PR Group
(561) 832-3231
INAUGURAL MARATHON OF THE PALM BEACHES SET FOR NOVEMBER 2004
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2004) - The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm
Beaches will host the inaugural Marathon of the Palm Beaches on Sunday,
Nov. 14, 2004 from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. David McGillivray, race director
of the world-famous Boston Marathon, will serve as race director for the
Palm Beach County event, which is expected to attract more than 3,000
participants in the first year from around the state and the nation. It
will start and finish in Downtown West Palm Beach, and sponsors to date
include WPBF Channel 25, The Palm Beach Post, ESPN Radio 760 AM, the Solid
Waste Authority, 97.9fm WRMF, Carey O'Donnell PR Group, the City of West
Palm Beach, Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons, and the Global
Housing Bureau.
The Marathon of the Palm Beaches will take place over a three-day long
weekend packed with race-related activities, including a two-day sports and
fitness expo and satellite events at CityPlace and area hotels. The focal
points of the weekend are the 26.2-mile marathon and the 13.1-mile
half-marathon, which will unfold along a spectacular waterfront route
through many of the historic neighborhoods in West Palm Beach and Lake
Worth. There will also be a team relay option, open to a limited number of
entrants.
To be held annually, the marathon is presented by the Chamber of Commerce
of the Palm Beaches. The goal is to provide a significant boost to the
county's economy in November, before the traditionally busiest winter
months. Additionally, the event will create a very attractive showcase for
the area at the state and national level through this large-scale sports
event.
"The marathon provides benefits to our community on so many levels," said
Dennis Grady, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.
"Marathon participants are typically affluent, and many travel with family
and friends. We expect a large percentage of participants to come from
outside of Palm Beach County bringing revenue to our hotels, restaurants,
retailers and attractions. We estimate that this first event could
generate in excess of $8 million into the Palm Beach County economy."
Running concurrent with the race weekend will be the Sports & Fitness Expo
of the Palm Beaches beginning on Friday, November 12 and concluding
Saturday afternoon. Participating exhibitors will represent a wide variety
of fitness-related products and services including nutrition, sportswear,
sports equipment, health services, travel services and more. Additional
activities associated with the weekend will be geared toward race
participants and their families and friends, but many will welcome
participation by the general public.
The Chamber of Commerce selected McGillivray as the race director for the
event because of his history producing some of the largest, most successful
sporting events in the nation, and for his commitment to involving the
community in every aspect of the event. He has directed and produced over
600 athletic events internationally, including the Boston Marathon; the
Triathlon World Championship at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.; the
Goodwill Games Triathlon; the 2003 US Women's Marathon National
Championship; the 2004 USA Women's Olympic Marathon Trials and the Boston
Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. He has also represented some of the world's
greatest triathletes including Dave Scott, Karen Smyers, Mike Pigg, Scott
Molina and Erin Baker. In 2000, McGillivray was honored with the Lifetime
Achievement Award by Competitor Magazine, and received the Race Director of
the Year award by Road Race Management, Inc. and Running Times Magazine.
Marathons in the United States are a $1 billion industry and continue to
increase in popularity and attendance, generating significant revenue
streams for the host cities. The New York City Marathon contributes $140
million to the local economy; Chicago Marathon, $90 million; and the Boston
Marathon, $68 million. The Chicago Marathon alone has grown three-fold
from 10,900 runners to over 37,000 runners in five years. There are now
over 300 marathons produced annually in the United States to meet the
growing demand for the sport, and running clubs have generated a worldwide
network of marathon runners.
For more information about the Marathon of the Palm Beaches, or to inquire
about corporate sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, contact Iva Grady
at the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, (561) 833-3711 ext. 225.
###
|
