Gold Coast readies for record influx of marathon runners

This weekend's Gold Coast Airport Marathon will see a record number of participants challenge themselves in one of Queensland's ever-growing major events.

With entries still open until 9pm today (Friday 29th June), the total number of runners will go close to 28,000 - an increase of over 3,000.

Queensland Minister for Tourism and Major Events Jann Stuckey said the record entry figures this year were a fantastic result for the marathon as well as for Queensland.

Minister Stuckey explained "more than 27,200 participants had registered by lunch time today to take part in the Gold Coast Airport Marathon this weekend, including over 7,000 from interstate and 2,160 from overseas.

"These participation numbers demonstrate the popularity of the event both nationally and overseas - shining a spotlight on the Gold Coast as a premier event and tourist destination.

"The Gold Coast Airport Marathon has established itself as a highlight on Queensland's major event calendar; increasing entry figures every year since Events Queensland Gold Coast took over its management - from 7,960 in 2001 to what will be close to 28,000 this year."

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon will not only showcase the region to runners from 31 countries taking part this year but also to more than 100 countries via the event's television and webcast coverage.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is supported by the Queensland Government through Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural and regional events.

The Gold Coast event calendar also features the Pan Pacific Masters Games, Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship, Magic Millions Race Day and Carnival, Netfest, Gold Coast Sevens - Fever Pitch, Armor All Gold Coast 600, and the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Entry statistics

• Over 7,000 residents of the Gold Coast;
• The overseas countries where most runners this year are coming from are: Japan (716), New Zealand (467), Singapore (308), United States (175), Malaysia (155), Taiwan (99), Hong Kong (80) and China (52);
• The race-by-race entries are currently: Gold Coast Airport Marathon (5705), ASICS Half Marathon (9660), Southern Cross University 10km Run (6654), Queensland Health 5.7km Challenge (3777) and Dreamworld Junior Dash (1402);
• There are 150 different teams participating this weekend, comprising 54 corporate teams, 30 fitness teams and 66 social teams.

Gold Coast Airport Marathon facts

• More than 170 media have been accredited for the event including over 70 international journalists from Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Portugal;
• There are more than 1,100 volunteers as part of the event's Suncorp Bank Volunteer Program, many recruited through 40 local community groups;
• The Gold Coast Airport Marathon could break the record for the most number of finishers in an Australian marathon event on Sunday. The record is held by the Melbourne Marathon which had 5,073 finishers in 2010;
• More than $360,000 has been raised for charity by runners in this year's Gold Coast Airport Marathon;
• The Gold Coast Airport Marathon has won the Major Event/Festival category at the past three Queensland Tourism Awards and has been inducted into its Hall of Fame.

For more information go to www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au