AusLeisure

Singapore’s premier running event, Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS), will undergo a facelift with the introduction of key race updates, a new charity partner and a grown-up Kids Dash at Orchard Road when it is held later this year.

2016 will be the 15th anniversary of the race, which will be managed for the next 10-years by Ironman Endurance Asia which acquired Spectrum Worldwide, which had organised the race since 2013, earlier this year.

Announcing the changes, Ironman Endurance Asia Managing Director Geoff Meyer, explained “Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore is the nation’s largest running event steeped in Singapore’s history, and culture, and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to enhance the event experience to commemorate this special year.”

For the first time, Orchard Road will be the main starting point for SCMS 2016 – for both the Kids Dash on Saturday 3rd December, and both Full and Half Marathons on Sunday 4th December.

Sunday’s Race Day will see multiple wave starts for Full and Half Marathons runners based on their estimated finishing time in order to ensure a smoother start.

Meyer added “enhancing the SCMS route is one of our priorities for 2016 - we want to improve the overall running experience and alleviate start-line congestion with multiple wave starts,” explained Meyer. “The anniversary year presents the opportunity for us to make improvements based on our runners’ feedback, and introduce new initiatives focused on deepening family and community ties.”

A morning event in 2015, Kids Dash 2016 will now flag off at 6pm outside Ngee Ann City. The popular Orchard Road will be closed for parents and supporters to witness 5,000 children, aged 13 and under, donning Santa hats and racing amidst the Christmas lights along Singapore’s iconic street.

Since 2002, SCMS has built itself into an inclusive event involving runners and supporters from all walks of life. Over 5,000 volunteers and supporters come together each year to create the unique SCMS experience. SCMS has also made fundraising a key theme of its community engagement program - Run for a Reason.

SCMS has contributed more than S$270,000 to SportCares, a Sport Singapore initiative established in 2012. Title sponsor Standard Chartered Bank has also raised over S$350,000 for its global charity, Seeing is Believing, and other sight-related charities in Singapore. Over S$2.8 million has been raised via the SCMS platform for local charities and partners including Autism Association of Singapore, Breast Cancer Foundation, Community Chest, Club Rainbow and GiveAsia.

To commemorate its 15th anniversary, SCMS renewed its partnership with Community Chest, inking a three-year agreement to profile Sharity as its event charity ambassador. As Community Chest’s iconic mascot, Sharity advocates ‘Caring and Sharing’ and raises empathy among the young to care for the less privileged and disadvantaged in our community.

Sport Singapore Chief Executive Lim Teck Yin added “the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore has played a pivotal role in developing the local sporting and running landscape.

“The Marathon has matured, and we hope to leverage the strong foundations and work closely with new organisers Ironman Asia to enhance the event and race experience.”

For more information go to www.marathonsingapore.com 

10th June 2016 - IRONMAN TO ORGANISE SINGAPORE MARATHON AFTER SPECTRUM WORLDWIDE SALE

29th December 2015 - STANDARD CHARTERED MARATHON SINGAPORE ATTRACTS MORE THAN 53,000 PARTICIPANTS

11th September 2015 - DALIAN WANDA BUYS IRONMAN TRIATHLON GROUP FOR US$650 MILLION

23rd July 2013 - SPECTRUM WORLDWIDE EVENTS NAMED STRATEGIC PARTNER FOR STANDARD CHARTERED MARATHON SINGAPORE

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