PATTAYA MARATHON 2002 EXPECTED TO ATTRACT 8,000 RUNNERS

17 July 2002

About 8,000 Thai and foreign runners are expected for the 10th Pattaya Marathon 2002 to be run on Sunday, July 21, in one of Southeast Asia’s most famous beach resorts.

The event is organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in co-operation with the Amateur Athletic Association of Thailand and Pattaya City Administration. The projected number of runners is about 10% higher than last year.

It is aimed at boosting the country’s long- standing potential as an international sports venue and attracting more visitors to the Eastern Seaboard provinces during the off-season.

The race will be divided into three categories: A full-length marathon (42.195 kilometres), half-marathon (21.10 kilometres) and mini-marathon (10.55 kilometres). Winners in each category will receive cash awards ranging from 1,500 baht to 150,000 baht plus certificates, medals and trophies.

Over 5,000 Thai visitors are expected to run, as well as 1,000 expatriates residing in Thailand and international visitors. About 2,000 local youths and students are also expected to participate. 

Located about 130-km southeast of Bangkok in Chonburi province, Pattaya is easily accessible from downtown Bangkok via two modern motorways in about 90 minutes. 

The resort has seen a wide range of tourism-related infrastructure developments emerge in recent years, including hotels, convention centres and a broad variety of tourism products. 

In 2001, visitor arrivals to Pattaya totalled 3,331,771, an increase of 5.72% over 2000. Of these, 720,364 or 21.62% of the total, were Thais. Visitors to Pattaya stayed an average of 3.14 days. In 2001, the resort had a total of 236 accommodation establishments with 23,960 rooms. They had an average occupancy of 59.44%. 

Application fees for the 10th Pattaya Marathon are 700 baht for the main Marathon, 500 baht for the Half-Marathon and 200 baht for Mini-Marathon. Applicants will get a complimentary accident insurance with reimbursement up to 100,000 baht. 

Interested runners can get more information by contacting: 

- Pattaya City Hall, North Pattaya Road, Banglamung, Chonburi, Tel: (662) 3841 0200 Ext. 108. 

- Amateur Athletic Association of Thailand located in the Thammasat
University’s Rangsit Campus Sports Centre, Phaholyothin Road, Pathumthani, Tel: (662) 2564 3322. 

- Running Sport and Trophy Company, Ratchadapisek Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Tel: (662) 2930 6089, 0 2930 6405-6.

- All TAT’s domestic offices nationwide.