Monaco, May 6 2011 - For the first time, the international organization Peace and Sport, under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, will take part in the ING New York Marathon on 6 November, 2011.
The organization which works to reconcile crisis-struck communities and to encourage dialogue and social stability through sport will participate as an official charity in the world’s most prestigious long-distance race.
Peace and Sport has been attributed 20 entries which will be allocated to people expressing their desire to actively contribute to Peace and Sport’s cause. Applications are now open, and anyone keen to be part of this initiative is invited to apply by visiting Peace and Sport’s website www.peace-sport.org.
In line with the tradition of the Marathon organizers, amateur runners who want to compete in Peace and Sport’s colours will commit to raising a minimum of Euro 2,500 (or USD 3,600).
These funds will be entirely dedicated to implementing peace-promotion through sport projects in countries where Peace and Sport operates: i.e. the Great Lakes region in Africa, Haiti, Colombia, Israel-Palestine, East Timor and Cote d’Ivoire.
The 20 Peace and Sport runners will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be coached by 3 tremendous running legends:
Paula Radcliffe, current Marathon world record-holder (2h 15min 25sec) and three-time winner of the New York Marathon and London Marathon. She will be attending the marathon to invest all her energy as a coach to the 20 Peace and Sport runners, although she will not compete this year
Tegla Loroupe, past world record-holder for 20, 25 and 30 km; triple world champion for half-marathon and the first African woman to have won the New York Marathon in 1994 and 1995!
Wilson Kipketer, three-time 800m world champion between 1995 and 1999. The NY Marathon will be his first-ever marathon.
These top-level athletes all belong to Peace and Sport’s ‘Champions for Peace’ club – a group of over 50 famous athletes who support the organization. They will provide intensive training on-line and offer their own personal advice to give totally unique technical, physical and mental preparation, culminating in a 2-hour group training session in Central Park on the eve of the event.
Paula Radcliffe announced: "I am very proud to make a contribution to the cause upheld by Peace and Sport. Since I have been a mother I am much more aware of the desperate situations that some children in the world live in and this deeply saddens me. Sport is a simple, easy-to-implement way of giving landmarks in life to children who are left to their own devices and gives them values which can greatly enrich their lives. By supporting Peace and Sport’s initiative, I hope to encourage raising funds which will be used to give a better life to hundreds of youngsters."
Tegla Loroupe added: "The New York marathon is a very special race for me. I owe it my best memories of being an athlete. What a pride and pleasure it will be to participate this year, whilst serving peace – a cause that I have passionately defended for many years!
I can’t wait to share my training secrets with the 20 people running in Peace and Sport colours. I think it’ll be great fun and highly rewarding because these people have committed to the organization, so it shows they have generous souls!"
Wilson Kipketer concluded: "It will be my first marathon and I’m very excited at the prospect. First and foremost it will give me the opportunity to compete in the world’s most prestigious marathon. Then, Paula and Tegla will help me in my training: two tremendous athletes that I really admire. Finally, I’ll be running for Peace and Sport, an organization in which I’ve been involved since it was founded in 2007. It will be a great personal adventure which I hope will enable me to bring a smile to the faces of children who live in awful poverty. This is my main motivation and I’m ready to invest all my energy in this project!"
The New York Marathon each year attracts over 40,000 professional and amateur running enthusiasts who run the whole of NY City before reaching the famous finishing line in Central Park.
There are three ways to take part in the Marathon: 1) by invitation or by ‘lottery’ draw (draw for the 2011 Marathon took place on 27 April), 2) buy a ticket from an approved international travel partner (ITP), or 3) undertake to support one of the 190 official charities.
In 2010 the Marathon raised 30 million USD for charity.
For more information, contact: press@peace-sport.org.
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