CHENNAI'S FIRST EVER MARATHON

November 4^th, 2001 will go down in the annals of sports in Chennai as a momentous day.  Chennai will witness on that day, its first ever marathon race.  The race is an example of what public and private organisations can achieve when they work together. Rotary International District 3230 and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) have come together to organise the city's first ever marathon in an attempt to foster athletic talent in the State.  Bharti Telecom, which recently introduced its Airtel Cellular Service in Chennai is the main sponsor of the event.

The marathon race commemorates the memory of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, who ran the first marathon from Athens to deliver the message of victory.  After he said 'Niki', which means 'victory', he collapsed and died.  The first modern Olympics in 1896 commemorated this Greek soldier,when it held a 24.85 mile run, which at the 1908 Olympic Games in London became 26 miles the distance from Windsor Castle to White City Stadium.  The additional distance of 385 yards was added so that the race could finish in front of the Royal Family's viewing box.  That was how the marathon distance that is still run today - 26 miles and 385 yards or 42 kms and 195 metres came into existence.  All across the globe there are many celebrated marathon events like the ones at London and Chicago.

The organisers who are committed to making the Chennai marathon an annual feature are also working towards getting it recognised by the International Athletic Federation.  Recognition from the International body would not only mean increased prize money through more private sponsorships, but also mean that the event becomes a part of the international marathon calendar.  The marathon this year has been organised with the permission of the Amateur Athletic Federation of India(AAFI).

P W Davidar, IAS, Member-Secretary, SDAT said that over 15,000 people are expected to participate in the event which has a prize money worth Rs 1,50,000/-.  Rotarian Benjamin Cherian, Chairman, Organising Committee, highlighted the uniqueness of this marathon when he pointed out that this was going to be run parallel to the Marina- the second longest beach in the world.  He expressed the hope that this would become an annual event and the setting itself would be a major attraction for marathon runners from across the globe in the years to come. The marathon this year has 'Peace' as its theme. 

While the men will run the full distance, the women will have to run only half the distance.  The marathon starts at 7 a.m. from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (J. N. Stadium). It will pass through Labour Statue, Gandhi Statue, Light House, Adyar Corner, IIT Campus, Concorde Motors, Velachery Bus Stand and then take the same way back to the J. N. Stadium.  The men runners will start from J. N. Stadium, while the women runners will start from the Velachery Bus Stand.  The top prize for the winners in the men's category is Rs 50,000/-, while it is Rs 25, 000/- in the women's category.

The entry fee for participating in the marathon is Rs 25/-.  Entry forms are available at the J. N. Stadium, Landmark, Sangeetha and Café Coffee Day and have to be submitted at J. N. Stadium on 2^nd and 3^rd November.  A medical check up will be conducted at the J. N. Stadium in Periamet on 3^rd November from 10 a.m.  The logo for the Chennai marathon designed by Take Wing Communications shows a runner emerging from the statue as the sun rises over the Marina.  The logo was inspired by the 'Triumph of Labour Statue' on the Marina promenade.  It stands for 'Passion, Persistence and Perseverance', which is what the marathon is all about.  The event is incidentally open to people from all over India and organisers are also hoping to attract runners from neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka. 

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