| August.28 2003 | ||
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| The “2003 Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon” will
be held as the opening event of the Shanghai Citizens’ Health-Promotion
Festival on Saturday, November 15, 2003 in Shanghai, China’s largest city
which is rapidly growing to be one of the major financial centers of the world.
This event will be organized by the China Athletic Sports Association and the
Shanghai City Sports Federation under the special sponsorship of Toray Industries,
Inc. and Toray Industries (China) Co., Ltd. The Toray Cup Shanghai International
Marathon Organizing Committee has begun accepting applications from runners who
wish to participate in the marathon. |
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The Shanghai International Marathon is a citizens’ marathon welcoming more than 12,000 runners from Shanghai and abroad as befitting the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai. It will enable participants to run through Shanghai and enjoy the sites of China’s largest city where the old and the new come together. Last year having marked the 30th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, the peoples of Japan and China, as well as the rest of the world, will be looking to the Shanghai International Marathon as a sports event commemorating a new era of friendship between the two countries. China is today experiencing an “Olympics boom” in anticipation of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and its people are showing increasing interest in marathon as an Olympic event. Therefore, as one of the major citizens’ marathons in China and as an opening event of the Shanghai Citizens’ Health-Promotion Festival to enhance Shanghai citizens’ mental and physical health, the Shanghai International Marathon is again expected to draw the participation of a large number of people this year. Owing to the many attractions of Shanghai and Shanghai’s proximity with Japan, the Shanghai International Marathon is also gaining interest in Japan, and the number of Japanese participants is increasing each year. Last year, approximately 700 runners from Japan ran in the marathon, and received cheers of support by elementary and junior high school children presenting dances and other performances along the route. Among the participants were invitees Katsumi Tsuchiya (Toray), Yasuaki Yamamoto (Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance), and Hiromi Watanabe (Asahi Bank), who finished first in the men’s full marathon, men’s half marathon, and women’s half marathon, respectively. The special sponsor of the Shanghai International Marathon, Toray Industries, Inc., is aggressively expanding businesses in China. It is currently engaged in the large-scale integrated production of polyester fiber from the production of raw material to the weaving and dyeing of the fiber, in Nantong City of Jiangsu Province. Two of its most recent developments in China include the establishment of Toray Industries (China) Co., Ltd. to serve as its base for business operations in China, and the launching of a new global brand called “TOREX.” As a worldwide enterprise, Toray supports the Shanghai International Marathon in hopes of contributing to the promotion of sports and cultural exchange not only between Japan and China, but among all countries in the world. The Shanghai International Marathon will again be held under three categories: full marathon (42.195 km), half marathon (21.0975 km), and fun marathon (4.1 km). Runners will start from “the Bund,” the most popular sightseeing spot in Shanghai, run through “Nanjing Road,” the city’s largest main street, from east to west, and reach the goal in “Shanghai Stadium.” With only a few ups and downs, runners should be able to run the courses comfortably, while enjoying the sites of Shanghai. The sight of more than 12,000 participants running through the Bund promises to be spectacular beyond imagination. Shanghai enjoys mild weather in mid-November, when this year’s marathon will be held. It is an ideal time for sightseeing in Shanghai, not to mention participating in the marathon. The Bund district with rows of stately European-style buildings and the beauty of the Yo Garden that was created in the Ming dynasty era, are two of the most attractive spots in Shanghai. Topped by exquisite Shanghai crabs in season, runners are certain to forget their fatigue from running. The outline of the “Shanghai Citizens’ Health-Promotion Festival-2003 Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon” is described below. |
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| Outline of “Shanghai Citizens’ Health-Promotion Festival- 2003 Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon |
| Title | : | Shanghai Citizens’ Health-Promotion Festival-2003 Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon |
| Organizers | : | China Athletic Sports Association Shanghai City Sports Federation |
| Support | : | Shanghai City Athletic Sports Association Xuhuai Qu Sports Federation Minhang Qu Sports Federation Changning Qu Sports Federation Huangpu Qu Sports Federation Jingan Qu Sports Federation Shanghai Television Station Shanghai East Asia Sports Culture Co., Ltd. |
| Management | : | 2003 Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon Organizing Committee |
| Special sponsor | : | Toray Industries, Inc. Toray Industries (China) Co., Ltd. |
| Sponsors | : | Various other companies |
| Date of event | : | Saturday, November 15, 2003 (no postponement for rain) |
| Event categories | : | Full marathon <Start: 8:00 am> (Scheduled course) Chen Yi Square in the Bund → Nanjing Road → West Yan An Road → Long Wu Road → Shanghai Stadium Half marathon <Start: 8:00 am> (Scheduled course) Chen Yi Square in the Bund → Nanjing Road → West Yan An Road → Long Wu Road → Shanghai Stadium Fun marathon (4.1 km) <Start: 8:05> (Scheduled course) Chen Yi Square in the Bund → East Zhong Shan Road → Nan Pu Bridge |
| Eligibility | : | Healthy men and women over the age of elementary school children |
| No. of participants | : | A total of about 12,000 participants in the three categories (full, half, and fun marathons) |
| Time limit | : | Full marathon :5 hours 30 min. Half marathon : 3 hours Fun marathon : 1 hour |
| Entry fee | : | Full marathon : 6,000 yen Half/Fun marathon : 4,000 yen |
| *Chinese, non-Chinese, and Japanese people living in China are requested to contact the Shanghai Office | ||
| Awards | : | Full/Half marathons: 1st to 3rd place winners (both men’s and women’s categories) will each be awarded a trophy, certificate of merit, and supplementary prize. 4th to 6th place winners (both men’s and women’s categories) will each be awarded a certificate of merit and a supplementary prize. Fun marathon: 1st to 6th place winners (both men’s and women’s categories) will each be awarded a supplementary prize. |
| Certificate | All participants will receive a commemorative
T-shirt of the event. All finishers of the marathon will receive a certificate of completion. |
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| Executive Offices | : | (Japan) Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon Japan Office Tel: 03-5296-8051 Fax: 03-5296-5796 (China) Toray Cup Shanghai International Marathon Shanghai Office Tel: 21-6841-1629 |
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