Dubai: The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2006, postponed from its original date in early January, is back on track and will take place on February 17.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon was scheduled to take place on January 6 but was immediately postponed following the demise of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Announcing the new date, event organiser Peter Connerton said there was never any doubt that the event would be rescheduled. "The international runners and all the officials were in Dubai preparing for the race and completely understood the reasons for the postponement as I'm sure did all of our registered runners in the Marathon, the 10km and the 3km fun run," he said.
With the new date confirmed, Connerton said all competitors who had registered for January 6 will be eligible for February 17.
Ray Ferguson, CEO, Standard Chartered UAE, added: "Standard Chartered backs this event because we believe, as do the organisers, that the Dubai Marathon can eventually take its rightful place along side other key events such as the London and New York runs. We are fully behind the organisers' attempts to make Dubai an inbound tourist destination for distance runners.
