RECORD PARTICIPATION FOR STANDARD CHARTERED MUMBAI MARATHON ON JAN 19, 2014
In the ten years since the inception of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, the event underwent numerous positive changes, as a result of the constant endeavour to enhance the running experience of the participant. It’s been a journey that has been embellished with milestones earning recognition and praise from various quarters.
Besides changing the lives of thousands of people in the city by introducing them to the benefits of running, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon has also set into motion a running movement that has now taken the country by storm.
The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon has touched the lives of countless individuals through its strong charity drive, having helped raise a staggering Rs 100 crores plus towards charity through its ten editions.
The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon belongs to the city, and while ten years for an event denotes stability and acceptance by the masses, it’s still just the beginning. There is yet a lot to be done and Procam International is committed to the task’s expectations.
Running on the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, the Marathon Flame coming to Mumbai, the release of the Marathon Anthem, the launch of the special edition Marathon coffee table book and the commission of the Special Edition Trophies have all been landmark occasions in the short but eventful journey of the Marathon. There is still more to come.
The countdown to the 11th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon was announced by Procam International in the presence of Government dignitaries, the Hon’ble Mayor of Mumbai, Sunil Kaushal, CEO Standard Chartered, the title sponsors, Vishal Jhunjhunwala, Head Corporate Brand Tata Consultancy Services, the Associate Sponsor, Event Ambassador John Abraham, and representatives of the various partners to the event at a glittering show hosted by Tara Sharma.
The occasion was also used to announce the final registration figures, give details on the Get Active Event Expo, introduce Tui India as the new Travel Partner and announce the live telecast of the Event on Star Sports.
Sumeet Singla, Regional Head Corporate Affairs India & South Asia, Standard Chartered said, “The SCMM has come a long way over the last decade, from modest beginnings to a point where it has become the single largest platform for charitable fund-raising. One can almost say, that the success of this initiative can be gauged not by the funds it has raised, but by the lives it has touched, by the good deeds it has enabled. This year, we have tried to make this marathon more participative by launching a ‘Good Deed Marathon’, a movement which we believe will make Mumbai smile, one good deed at a time. It will provide a platform to showcase each and every good deed of Mumbaikars and enhance the stature of the SCMM not just as a cornerstone sporting event, but one that actively works towards creating a difference in society”.
N Chandrasekaran, CEO and MD, TCS said, “Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been associated with the Mumbai Marathon for many years and we are extremely proud of the fact that the event is now in its 11th edition. As an organisation that has a young workforce, we encourage our associates to live a healthy and active lifestyle and a focus on wellness is an important part of our corporate culture”.
“I am proud that we have over 1500 TCSers participating across various categories in this year’s event.”
Vishal Sinha of Tui India, the event’s new Travel Partner said, “As part of the world largest leisure travel company TUI India’s constant endeavor is to spread smiles across the globe and celebrate new beginnings, new quests and above all mankind. The Mumbai Marathon imbibes that spirit of creating smiles and spreading it across and therefore, a great platform for us to connect with the city of Mumbai.
We feel that there is no better time than the Mumbai Marathon and so TUI India will also be launching its first retail store in Bandra during the race week. We are excited and look forward to being welcomed by Mumbai and hope that people will choose to travel with TUI and travel with a smile.”
CASH BONANZA: Already the richest marathon in Asia, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2014 will now offer an enhanced prize purse of USD 360,000, an increase equivalent of USD 10,000 over what was on offer in 2013. The increase in prize money is towards the Indian prize fund and will benefit the Indian athletes in the full marathon.
The top Indian male and female finishers will now stand to gain Rs 5 lakh each.
REGISTRATION FIGURES: Since its inception in 2004, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon has been embraced by the city and its citizens as its very own, the sense of ownership and belonging strengthening over the years. In the 11th year the event was oversubscribed much before the last date and it is this commitment from the participants that propels promoters Procam International, backed by the powers that govern, to deliver an even better event on January 19, 2014.
The Full Marathon has received 3600 entries. This is definitely an encouraging trend as all the full marathoners are timed athletes, making them serious runners, which goes to show how this event has encouraged amateur runners to train hard and attempt the distance of 42.197 kms. While there was a huge demand for half marathon running places, entries to the event were restricted, finally closing at 14,200.
The Senior Citizens’ Run will have 1360 participants, while the Champions with Disability Event 200, with 20,150 people registering for the Dream Run, making it a total count of 39,510 participants on Race Day.
GET ACTIVE EXPO: The Get Active Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon Expo will be held at the MMRDA Ground at the Bandra Kurla Complex, Opp. Citibank and Indian Oil Petrol Pump, Bandra (East) from January 10 to 12, 2014. The Expo will be on between 11.00 am to 7.00 pm on all the three days and will also be the venue for all confirmed participants from Mumbai and its suburbs to come and collect their running numbers along with the runner’s kit. Outstation runners can collect their running numbers and runner’s kit on January 18 between 11.00 am and 5.00 pm at the World Trade Center, Cuffe Parade.
While the Expo dates constitute an entire weekend, giving participants the whole of Friday, Saturday and Sunday to come and collect their running numbers, the period of a week before Race Day also gives them ample time to study in detail the race day instructions, familiarize themselves with the security arrangements, the traffic restrictions, the road closures and other arrangements that will come into force for Race Day.
The Good Deed Marathon is an initiative to get all of Mumbai to feel the joy of being part of a marathon? The joy of belonging to a community, the celebration, the feeling of doing good, of doing charity. A marathon that doesn’t need shoes or stamina, but a heart.
The Good Deed Marathon is a movement that will make Mumbai smile, one good deed at a time. It will capture and document and showcase all the good that Mumbai does.
So for the next 16 days, people need to register and submit their good deeds, on the event’s facebook page or on a mobile app. And of course, it makes no difference if the good deed is tiny or big, because like they say, every good deed counts.
Many brands and people have come forward to partner the Good Deed Marathon. PVR is screening films and ensuring that all staff wear the GDM t-shirt and when one buys tickets to a movie, there is a hashtag created for an instagram account (#good deed) where people can upload pictures. Mumbai based online magazines like Mumbai Boss, We are Mumbai and Mumbai Samosa will be extolling people to participate in the Good Deed Marathon.
After registering, one will receive the Good Deed band and the bands will be delivered by Mirakle Couriers – a courier company that employs hearing and speech impaired delivery personnel. The idea of the Good Deed Marathon has influenced quite a few prominent Mumbaikars – stand up comedian Aditi Mittal, Ganesh Naik of Animals Matter To Me, Viren Rasquinha, ex Olympic Hockey Captain and others have been captured in influencer films that will be spread across the online world. The list of activities to get Mumbai’s ‘giving’ chord activated is numerous.
United Way of Mumbai will be partnering the Good Deed Marathon. This means that people can, if they wish, extend themselves and take the Good Deed Marathon forward by volunteering, spreading the word or even donating to any of the NGO’s that come under them.
The Good Deed Marathon Project will be now an annual campaign – a campaign that documents Mumbai’s giving spirit and brings together the people of the city!
Title Sponsor: Standard Chartered Bank
Associate Sponsor: Tata Consultancy Services
Promoted by: Procam International
Under the Aegis of: Athletic Federation of India
