Dr Sim (front, second left) launches the Kuching Marathon 2017 online registration together with (from right) Liew, Peter, Dr Jamilah, Ling and Wong (far left). — Photos by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: The organisers of Kuching Marathon are asked to do something to draw more local and international participants for this year’s race on Aug 13.
Minister of Local Government Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said it was his hope that this year’s event would draw even more participants compared to last year.
It is reported that over 8,000 local and international runners took part in the race last year.
Dr Sim said the Kuching Marathon must be looked at as an event beyond just running for it had attracted professional runners from all over the world.
He said the participation of world-class runner was bound to stir the interest of the local people.
“People living along the route may have to stay late or wake up early in the morning to watch the race.
“The marathon is also a potential tourism product and therefore the state government and its various agencies will also have to be involved to maintain its status,” he said at the launch of the Kuching Marathon 2017 online registration here yesterday.
Organised by Kuching Division Marathon Association (KDMA), the first event of the race will be flagged off at 1am.
Dr Sim believed that Kuching Marathon had the potential to grow as a signature event.
He said the organiser should also strive to make it similar to the New York, Boston or Sydney marathons, which attracted large number of participants from all over the world.
At the event, Dr Sim also launched the finisher medal of the Great Borneo Series (GBS), which consists of Miri Marathon, Borneo International Marathon and Kuching Marathon.
Miri Marathon will be held on March 17 while the Borneo International Marathon will be held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on May 7 and the Kuching Marathon on Aug 13.
On the GBS, Dr Sim said it should not just be held once, but every year.
“Let this series be the beginning of many more to come for I believe they can do much for the three cities — Miri, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.
“Let GBS be a festival of running in the three cities,” he said.
State Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim, KDMA president Wong Chen Yi, its secretary Liew Tang Chieh, DBKU head of community and relation services Peter Martin and Miri Marathon press director James Ling were also present at the launching ceremony.