Edwin Moses to be the International Event Ambassador for SCMM 2016

On Sunday, 17th January 2016, Mumbai will host the 13th edition of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM), an event that sparked the running revolution for India. The roads of Mumbai will be graced by some of the finest long distance athletes from across the world along with other running enthusiasts who put their best foot forward to achieve their desired goals.

The marathon that has engulfed the city of Mumbai and the nation has never before seen such an overwhelming response. Despite the strict timing criteria and cut-off dropped by 15mins for all age groups, the half marathon registrations were shut within a week of the registrations announcement. The Full Marathon for the first time is a compulsory timed category with over 5000 runners. This is a testimony to the growth of running as a serious sport in India.

A total of 40, 285 runners from different corners of the world will take centre-stage at the 13th edition of SCMM.  This includes 14,431 registrations for the Half Marathon while Dream Run received 18,934 entries.  Other categories like DHL Corporate Champions received 364 entries, Sr. Citizen Run had 899 entries, Champions with Disability received 363 entries and Police cup with 64 registrations. 

Asia’s richest marathon with a prize money of USD 3,77,000 will witness an array of Indian & international athletes at the start line. Leading the international pack will be course record holders, Jackson Kiprop and Valentine Kipketer gunning for the title amongst other world-class athletes. The Indian contingent will be lead by the Olympic trio of OP Jaisha, Sudha Singh and Lalita Babar.

Asics Finishers Tee: Sports Goods Partner, Asics, this year exclusively launched the SCMM Asics Finishers Tee. Designed and created by its renowned team, this premium Tee will be awarded to the first 1000 Half and Full Marathon finishers.

Edwin Moses, International Event Ambassador: Edwin Corley Moses is a former American track and field athlete, an Olympic legend and now the International Event Ambassador for SCMM 2016. He is remembered for one of the most dominant reigns in world sport. For a remarkable nine years, nine months and nine days, he remained invincible in the 400 meters hurdles, being unbeaten between 1977 and 1987 with 122 consecutive races (107 finals). Bounding over the ten three-foot obstacles, he took an unprecedented 13 steps in between the hurdles instead of the usual 14. His exceptional style remains the ultimate demonstration of power, speed, and elegance.

On his association with the event, he said, “It feels great to be a part of a marathon that started it all for India. I am honoured by being the Event Ambassador and would be more than happy to extend my support to all the participants across this diverse country. I have admired long distance runners and the challenge, perseverance it takes to run 42 km or 22 km is remarkable and highly commendable. Hope that my presence at the event helps to motivate and encourage each participant, and inspires them to reach their full potential. Impossible is only a state of mind!”

By the time he retired from the sport in 1989, Moses had won two Olympic gold medals, in Montreal in 1976 and Los Angeles in 1984 and bronze in Seoul in 1988. In 1983, he broke the world record for the fourth time in Koblenz, Germany, with a time of 47.02, a mark that stood for the next nine years. During his career, he won three World Cup titles and two World-Championships.

Moses founded the Laureus World Sports Academy in 1999. In 2000, he was elected the first Chairman of the Academy, a unique association of forty-two of the greatest living sporting legends who volunteer their time in this noble cause. 

Vivek Singh, Jt. Managing Director, Procam International said, “As we enter the 13th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, we are all set to witness this New Year’s biggest sporting extravaganza. With each year, numerous participants are signing in and this year too, the registrations were closed well in advance. We are delighted to be spreading the message of health and fitness. We welcome and thank our partners, International Event Ambassador – Edwin Moses and the runners for supporting the event and helping it grow to this level.”

New Partners: Over the years, the most respected brands have partnered Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon for the transformational role it plays in bringing individuals, organizations and institutions together.

This year, the event has three new sponsors on-board: S-CROSS, The Premium Crossover, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. as the Driven By Partner and world leaders in Nutrition, Health and Wellness, Nestlé as the Nutrition Partner and India’s flag airline carrier, Air India as the Airline Partner.

As a Nutrition Partner, Nestlé will provide all participants healthy post refreshments. In addition to this, the brand is celebrating its 100^th year in India and as part of its association with running has rolled out campaign #100andrunning with the iconic centenarian runner Fauja Singh.

Free Shuttle Service for Half Marathon Participants: With a new half marathon start from near Worli Dairy and for the convenience of half marathon participants there will be shuttle service from Currey Road station on the Central Railway and Lower Parel on the Western Railway line. These buses that are free for all participants wearing valid bibs will operate from 3.30 am to 5.00 am on race day 17th January 2015.

The buses will be available from Lower Parel Station bus stop, which is on the east side and is also at a distance of 220 meters from the Currey road station ticket office on the Currey road bridge.

Radio Mirchi  Get Active Expo: A one-stop destination for runners, the Expo will be organized at Plot No.18, Bandra Kurla Complex, Next to BKC 1 Building, diagonally opposite to Bank of Baroda building, Behind MCA, Bandra (East) from 8th to 10th  January 2016. The Expo will be on between 11.00 am and 7.00 pm on all three days and will also be the venue for all confirmed participants from Mumbai and its suburbs to come and collect their running numbers.

Outstation runners can collect their running numbers on 16th January 2016 from the World Trade Center, Cuff Parade between 11.00 am and 5.00 pm.

The expo gives participants an entire weekend, to study in detail race day instructions, familiarize themselves with security arrangements, traffic restrictions, road closures and other provisions that will come into force on Race Day.

The Get Active Expo will also see a host of activities like the finale of the Cigna TTK Treadmillion Challenge, running tips from the experts etc. There will also be interactive stalls of partners and other leading brands for the benefit of the runners.