Ooredoo’s Community and Public Relations director Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari (centre), the 2015 race director and 2013 women’s winner Sarah Whittington (left), and race ambassador Liz McColgan, the silver and gold medalist at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, at a press conference yesterday.

Ooredoo yesterday announced the registration for the Ooredoo Doha Marathon 2015 open, as the company begins preparations to ensure their biggest event yet.

The Ooredoo marathon will be the third edition of the annual event and organisers are confident that the number of runners will beat the 1,500 who took part last year. The event is designed to encourage more young people to get involved in sport and healthy lifestyles, and continues to expand as more people look to become fitter through running.

Addressing a press conference Ooredoo’s Community and Public Relations director Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari, said: “The Ooredoo Marathon is becoming a key sporting event in Qatar, and we want to make the 2015 edition bigger and better than ever before. With a host of family-friendly activities, it will be an ideal day out for all the family, and we are providing incredible support for people who want to participate.”

To provide more choice for athletes of different abilities, this year’s edition will feature a full marathon, half marathon, 10 km race, five km race and a special three km and one km race for children and young people.

To encourage professional runners from across the region and globe to compete, Ooredoo is also offering QR 1,000,000 in prize money for the winners.

The event will take place on January 9, 2015, with a new course that aims to provide an exciting challenge for runners as well as showcasing the best of Doha’s iconic sites and creating a spectator friendly venue. Funds raised by the entry fees will be donated to key charities.

The race ambassador Liz McColgan, the silver and gold medalist at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, said, “Distance running is a great way to get fit, and the 2015 Ooredoo Doha Marathon will offer a great choice of races for both committed runners and for people looking to start out. We’re hoping that people from across Qatar will be inspired to run with us in 2015.”

Sarah Whittington, the 2015 Ooredoo Marathon race director and 2013 women’s Ooredoo Marathon winner, said: “Ooredoo is working hard to improve this event every year, and the 2015 edition will combine a fantastic route, incredible support and the latest technology to help people get the most out of participating.”

Everyone who registers to run will get access to a special training app, Endomondo, which will help them develop customised training plans based on their chosen race. The app can be downloaded and will enable people to track their workouts, view and analyse performance and connect with other friends who are training as well.

Each runner will be awarded a certificate of participation, and winners in each category will be awarded medals and cash prizes.

Funds raised through registrations for the marathon will be donated to a range of worthy charities in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. The 2014 registration funds went towards charitable and humanitarian efforts undertaken by non-profit organisation Reach Out To Asia.

 

 

 

Related Story