Top runners from around the world have arrived here to take part in the Dubai Marathon to be held tomorrow.
The 42.195-km marathon will commence at 7am from under the shadows of Emirates Towers and Dubai World Trade Centre.
This will be followed by the popular 10-km road race and the 3-km fun run.
Speaking at the official launch of the event, Ray Ferguson, the chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank, the main sponsors of the event, said: "The quality of the competitors running in Dubai has steadily improved and this year we look forward to seeing the strongest ever field battle it out for top honours.
"This race has all the right conditions for a world record attempt, with a flat course and mild temperatures at this time of year, so there is a chance for some really impressive times, if not an attempt on the world best."
Incidentally, the Dubai Marathon is the fifth marathon to be sponsored by Standard Chartered globally, after Nairobi, Mumbai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Among the top athletes who have arrived for the event are Kenya's Willy Cheruiyot Kipkirui, who clocked a winning time of 2:09:20 in Vienna last October. He also recorded his fourth Eindhoven Marathon victory in five years recently. Christopher Kipkoech, another top runner from Kenya, will be making his debut here.
With Gashaw Mele Asfaw, last year's winner, not participating this year, David Kuino, who finished runner-up, is hoping to win it this time.
"Last year I missed it, but this year I am confident of winning. I have worked hard for winning this event," he told the Gulf News.
In the ladies' competition too, last year's winner Leila Aman could not make it for the event.
However, the competition will be tough with star athletes like Krystina Kuta of Poland, Romania's Anna Lupan and Ethiopia's Diribe Hunde taking part.
The record prize-money of $110,000 (around Dh404,580) will surely make the runners come up with their best.
For the local runners, there are prizes for the top three male and female finishers in the 10-km event.
The 10-km runners can also win a brand new Toyota Echo through a grand draw, which is open to all 10km competitors.
This event is also being supported by JW Marriott, adidas, Dubai Radio Network, Deira City Centre, Toyota, Aquafina, Isostar, DWTC, Dutco and Khansaheb.
