Beirut Marathon 2008

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The Beirut Marathon is a marathon sporting event that has been held every year in Beirut, Lebanon since 2003. In addition to the main marathon (42.195 km), there is a 10 km run, and a 5 km mini-marathon. In the fourth edition in 2006, more than 20,000 runners had participated.

Beirut Marathon Association held a press conference on Thursday 9 October at UNESCO Palace to announce the partners and sponsors of the Blom Beirut Marathon 08, organized by the organization on Sunday November 30 under the slogan "With their strength we run".

Beirut Marathon

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Anyone here participating? .

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Runners gear up for Beirut Marathon

By Ghenwa Yehia
Special to The Daily Star
Monday, November 24, 2008


BEIRUT: With less than 10 days until this year's Beirut Marathon on November 30, runners and organizers are gearing up for both the sporting event and the parallel humanitarian challenge of raising money for cancer treatment, research, and awareness. The marathon, sponsored by BLOM Bank and many other corporations, is an annual event organized by the Beirut Marathon Association (BMA).

The BMA was founded in 2002 and is a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) registered under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Apart from organizing the annual marathon and other running events, the BMA's mission also includes enabling charitable organizations within Lebanon to benefit from sponsored participants and to raise awareness for their causes. This year's slogan for the marathon reads, "With strength we run against cancer."

Past themes have included "For the love of Lebanon" in 2006, and in 2005, after the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri, the BMA organized a 5-kilometer "Unity Run."

"In the past, we chose a more national theme because it related to the political situation in Lebanon," said BMA president May El Khalil. "Now that the political situation is more stable, we shifted our focus onto more humanitarian causes."

Cancer was chosen as the theme for this year because of the taboo that still surrounds the disease in many Middle Eastern countries, including Lebanon.

"Our hope is to emphasize the importance about cancer education which may lead to prevention," said Khalil. "We need to face reality and come to terms with the disease in order to create a support system for those already dealing with it as well."

The Beirut Marathon Association has also established an "NGO Partnership Program" in order to help raise funds for worthy causes. One of the many ways the NGOs receive funds by participating is by registering runners under their names to receive 20-30 percent of their registration fees, with he remaining 70-80 percent going toward the cost of organizing the event. According to organizers, funds are quickly adding up as many of the NGOs are working in coordination with schools, high-profile runners and celebrities.

Dana Dbouk, the BMA's coordinator for NGOs and volunteers, said that while precisely much money the marathon has raised won't be known until after race day, "what we know so far is that it's looking promising."

Maria Pia Nehme, a 27-year-old Lebanese-Canadian runner, has run in eight BMA races so far. While she is not running for any of the NGOs, she said the theme of this year's marathon was something that she supports completely.

"I'm really happy that the BMA decided to focus the marathon this year on a humanitarian cause instead of politics," Nehme explained. "It's important to think of Lebanon in the human dimension, to think of the actual people here, and not just about the country's politics."

"This is a great chance to focus on trying to make a change in what really matters," she said. "By raising money for such great NGOs we have the chance to be really helpful and touch the lives of so many people."

Registration for this year's marathon ended on November 15, but the number of expected participants - more than 27,000 -has already broken record for previous years.

"I'm sure if registration was still open we would have more people still registering," said Khalil. "We have a good number of elite international runners coming and with over 27,000 people registered this is going to be our biggest event ever."

"Given the chance, our goal is to hold a race that is organized and admirable," Khalil added. "Our objective is to deliver a first-class marathon while supporting a great cause that will hopefully leave a good impression of Lebanon in the hearts of all."

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A British athlete born without legs ran in the Beirut marathon yesterday on artificial limbs.

Richard Whitehead tackled his first event in the Middle East as part of his bid to inspire victims of disability - in this case, Lebanese children maimed by cluster bombs.

'You have to stay positive. Barriers placed in front of you can be broken down, whether it's in life or sport,' the 32-year-old from Nottingham said.

The sportsman has run marathons in Tanzania, New York and Cape Town and represented Great Britain in cricket and swimming.


Artificial limb runner bids to inspire | Metro.co.uk

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RESULTS MEN

1 Alemayehu SHUMWE 2.12.47
2 Michael KIPKORIR 2.16.15
3 Hussen ADEM 2.16.44

RESULTS WOMEN

1 Alemtsehay HAILU 2.37.20
2 Tadelech BIRRA 2.37.58
3 Wudnesh NEGA 2.39.09

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