The Hindu : Sport : SCMM hopes to set a record for charity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 23, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Sports : General

SCMM hopes to set a record for charity

Special Correspondent

Mumbai: The prize money for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM) 2011 has been increased to $325,000. An IAAF Gold Label event, the SCMM will be held here on January 16 with a total registration of 38,400 runners in several categories.

This year's event will be embellished with an event anthem composed by percussion maestro Taufiq Qureshi and sung by Shaan. The lyrics have been written by Rachana Dixit.

The SCMM — eighth since its inception in 2004 — is probably the only international sporting event of note in the city in recent times. It's already the single largest fund raising event for charity in India. So far the event has collected Rs. 43 crore.

“The SCMM is the most anticipated sporting event in the city and in India. It has triggered a running revolution. People run to win the competition, for fitness, fun or charity. I am sure the SCMM 2011 will set a record for charity,'' said Sreeram Iyer, Chief Operating Officer, India & South Asia, Standard Chartered, at the launch of the event here on Tuesday.

Catherine Freeman, the Australian aboriginal sprinter who lit the Olympic flame at Sydney 2000 and won the 400m gold, has been named the international brand ambassador for the event. She will join the illustrious group of Michael Johnson, Mike Powell, Linford Christie, Paul Tergat, Steve Ovett, Gail Devers, Kelly Holmes, Dan O'Brien and Kapil Dev.

The SCMM felicitated Kavita Raut (silver in the 10,000m event at the Guangzhou Asian Games and bronze in the same event at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi).The full marathon has received 2800 entries and the half marathon, 11,000. About 22,500 have registered for the Dream Run, 1800 for the senior citizens run and 300 for the wheelchair event.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is the associate sponsor.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport