(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Dubai has laid out the red carpet for what will be the first major event of 2017 in the UAE and that is the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.
And, if the numbers are anything to go by, Dubai is set for a milestone as, come Friday, more than 200,000 runners will have taken part in the annual IAAF Gold Label event since its debut in 2000.
Praising the RTA and the Dubai Police, president of the UAE Athletics Federation, Ahmed Al Kamali said, "To have had more than 200,000 people run the event demonstrates the wonderful cooperation we have with organisations such as the RTA and Dubai Police."
No doubt the event has grown in stature over the years but with it some big names too have graced the race. One such star attraction is world and Olympic record holder of the 5,000 and 10,000 metres - Keninisa Bekele - who will lead the marathon masses across the starting line at 6.30am from Umm Suqeim Road before the 10km starts at 9am and the 4km Fun Run sets off at 11am.
"Naturally we are delighted to have Kenenisa with us for his second appearance," said Event Director Peter Connerton while addressing the media at the Meydan Hotel. "It"s also appropriate a runner of such international standing is at the front of the pack as we break through the 200,000 mark."
Bekele, who heads the men"s field, didn"t have a memorable debut in Dubai in 2014 after he pulled out due to injury. But the long distance runner is confident of doing well this time and has also set his sights on the world record which he missed by a whisker in Berlin in September.
"I plan to break the world record but it"s a race and anything can happen. The Dubai course is similar to the Berlin course so I hope I will have a good race here. Although I plan to attack the world record I can"t say I will break it as every race is different," he said.
The 34-year-old did set an Ethiopian record in Berlin but he knows he won"t have it all his way on a course that has produced more than a fair share of surprise winners, including 21-year-old Tsegaye Mekonnen who won the 2014 Dubai Marathon and is back at another tilt at the title.
Shure Demise leads a strong field in the women"s category wherein she will face fellow Ethiopians Meselech Melkamu, Tadelech Bekele and Arage Yebrgual for the top prize of $200,000.
Held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and held under the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council, the event will for the first time witness four wheelchair athletes.
Runners still looking to enter for the marathon, the 10km Road Race or the 4km Fun Run can still register online at www.dubaimarathon.org.
Meanwhile, Standard Chartered have committed to sponsoring the Dubai Marathon until 2020, it was confirmed by Sarmad Lone, Standard Chartered Bank"s Head of Banking for the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan on Wednesday.
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