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2007 Toray Shanghai Marathon To be held on Sunday, November 25, 2007 Invitation for entries to the Full Marathon / Half Marathon / Fun Marathon (4.5 km) |
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The outline of the “2007 Toray Shanghai Marathon” has been decided. Shanghai is China’s largest financial center with a long history as a cosmopolitan city. 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 Shanghai Marathon, comparable to the Tokyo Marathon and the New York Marathon, is a city marathon held in the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai. Recognized as one of China’s four major international marathons by the State General Administration of Sports, the marathon offers three categories of the full and the half marathons, which have a more competitive nature and use a course certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), and the fun marathon which anybody can participate in. The 2007 Toray Shanghai Marathon will start at 7:30 (scheduled time) on November 25, 2007 (Sun) (local time) with the 42.195-km full marathon from Century Plaza, East Nanjing Road, Shanghai City, to Minhang Stadium with a time limit of 6 hours and the 21.0975-km half marathon with a limit of 3 hours. Every year, runners are composed of general participants and guest runners including the world’s top runners from Japan and other countries.
Higher-ranking winners in the full and the half marathons will be awarded with prize money, while all finishers who complete the marathon within the time limit will receive a certificate of completion and all participants will receive a commemorative T shirt. The 4.5-km fun marathon which anybody can participate in will be held at the same time. Runners will start from Century Plaza, East Nanjing Road, Shanghai City, which is the same starting point as the full and the half marathons, at 7:45 (scheduled time) and finish at Jing An Park. The time limit is one hour. The fun marathon is not a competition and all participants will receive a commemorative T shirt. The Toray Shanghai Marathon Japan Office is accepting applications from runners who wish to participate in the marathon until November 5, 2007 (Mon). |
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＜Toray Shanghai Marathon as a City Marathon＞ Marathons have been attracting people’s attention in China over the past several years as a sport for increasing health, and the number of people who enjoy marathons is increasing throughout the country every year. The Toray Shanghai Marathon held in China’s largest financial center, has developed as an international citizen’s marathon with many participants from foreign countries and celebrates its 12th anniversary this year. It was recognized as one of China’s four major international marathons (Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian and Xiamen) by the State General Administration of Sports in 2005 and designated as one of Shanghai’s four major sports events, together with the F1, Men’s Masters Tennis and IAAF Grand Prix, by the Shanghai city government in 2006. The 2006 Marathon welcomed more than 17,000 runners including approximately 1,200 runners from Japan. China is today anticipating the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Chinese people are showing increasing interest in the marathon as an Olympic event, so the 2007 Marathon is expecting approximately 20,000 participants. As the course gradients are not so high, runners should be able to complete the high-speed course comfortably, running through the sightseeing spot of East Nanjing Road and main streets in the cosmopolitan city. The number of participants from Japan is expected to increase since interests in running are increasing recently and air access from Japan will be more convenient this fall. ＜Special Sponsorship＞ Toray has sponsored the Shanghai International Marathon as a special sponsor since 1997. Toray has a long relationship with China, particularly Shanghai, since it exported a fibrous raw material plant to Shanghai in 1973. Currently, Toray has a large-scale integrated production base of polyester fiber, engaging in polymerization of polyester to yarn-making, weaving and dyeing of the fibers, in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province. It established Toray Industries (China) Co., Ltd. in Shanghai in 2003 to control 17 affiliated companies in China and is aggressively expanding its business in China, particularly in Shanghai. One of Toray’s basic management policies is “For Society”. Toray stresses “contribution to the local community as a good corporate citizen through social activities” in sponsorship of the Shanghai International Marathon. Toray will contribute to the development of Shanghai through special sponsorship of the marathon and make efforts for the development of the marathon as part of the friendship activities between Japan and China. The outline of the 2007 Toray Shanghai Marathon is described below. |
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Outline of 2007 Toray Shanghai Marathon
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<For more information about invitation for entries please contact:> 2007 Toray Shanghai Marathon Japan Office Tel: 042-522-4881 URL http://www.shmarathon.com/ Closing date for applications: November 5, 2007 (Mon) <For press inquiries please contact:> 2007 Toray Shanghai Marathon PR Office Tel: 03-5575-3223 Attn: Choe, Sato |
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