The upcoming BII Maybank Bali Marathon 2014 which will be held in Gianyar, Bali this Sunday, 14 September will see the participation of over 230 Malaysians among the over 4400 runners from 43 countries who have registered for the event.
The BII Maybank Bali Marathon which offers US$150,000, in total prizes money is divided into three categories; full marathon which cover a distance of 42.195 km, half marathon which covers a distance of 21.0975 km and 10 km run. The marathon’s route has also obtained international certification from the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). The run which was inaugurated in 2012 has grown to be one of the most sought after marathons in the region.
Taswin Zakaria, President Director BII said, “We are pleased to see almost 50% increase in overall participation this year from the 3,000 runners we had last year. This is testament that the marathon has become increasingly popular. I’m pleased to welcome all runners to Bali, especially from our neighboring country, Malaysia, to our event.”
Added Taswin, “The differentiating factor that BII Maybank Bali Marathon has compared to other marathons is the scenic view and unique cultural experience we offer where runners will have the chance to not only see but also experience Balinese traditional performances along the course and villages.”
Another notable development is that this year’s event has been included in the official race directory of the Boston Marathon. “This means that runners who complete in the BII Maybank Bali Marathon within the minimum qualifying time will be able to register for the Boston Marathon, which is one of the six marathons in the prestigious World Major Marathon Series,” he added.
Retaining its “Push Your Limit” theme, the BII Maybank Bali Marathon aims to create public awareness on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and striving for greater achievements in their personal lives.
Taswin also said that in line with Maybank Group’s mission to humanise financial services, the marathon programme will incorporate Corporate Responsibility (CR) initiatives to support the schools and community in Gianyar. This year, the CR activities will include painting competitions for 24 elementary schools along the marathon route where the funds collected from the sale of these paintings will be donated to the schools.