Press Release - Gold Coast Airport Marathon - 12/20/17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

         Gold Coast Marathon beamed into millions of homes worldwide

Wednesday 20 December

The Gold Coast Marathon today revealed its 2017 television highlights 
program was broadcast to an estimated two billion viewers resulting in 
significant international exposure for the annual event.

Gold Coast Marathon CEO Cameron Hart said the highlights program, 
circulated by Sports TV Media Distribution, has boosted the marathon's 
reputation as a recognised global sports tourism attraction.

"Over 1,722 hours of this year's event were aired into almost 900 million 
homes in 93 countries. Importantly, this includes our target markets for 
international runners including Japan, South East Asia, Greater China and 
the United States," Mr Hart said.

"It's staggering that images of our flat and fast course, ideal winter 
running conditions and the Gold Coast's world-famous surf beaches and 
stunning broadwater were beamed to a such a large international audience.

"These viewership figures affirm the mass global appeal of the Gold Coast 
Marathon and cements its position as a major international event on 
Australia's sporting calendar.

"Entries for the 40th edition opened earlier this month and we have 
witnessed a flow-on effect of this exposure with thousands of participants 
from over 20 countries having already secured their position on the start 
line next year."

Minister for Tourism and Industry Development and Minister for the 
Commonwealth Games Kate Jones said the Gold Coast Marathon is a major 
sporting event that promotes the Gold Coast and Queensland to key overseas 
tourism markets.

"The Gold Coast Marathon is one of the premier marathon events in the world 
and remains an attraction for entrants and spectators from overseas and 
Australia," Ms Jones said.

"This year's event injected $25 million into the state's economy by 
attracting more than 41,000 international and interstate visitors to 
Queensland, including a record number from South East Asia and the United 
States.

"The success of the 2017 marathon has reinforced the Gold Coast as a 
world-class sporting event destination in the lead up to the Gold Coast 
2018 Commonwealth Games."

The Gold Coast Marathon's international and domestic reach continues to 
grow emphatically due its live webcast reaching more than 135,000 viewers 
on Facebook and YouTube and its television partnership with Channel Nine 
and NBN Television on which the program generated a reach of 287,300.

The Gold Coast Marathon is organised by Events Management Queensland, a 
major event management company wholly owned by the Queensland Government as 
part of Tourism and Events Queensland.

The 40th annual Gold Coast Marathon will be held on Saturday 30 June and 
Sunday 1 July 2018.

Visit goldcoastmarathon.com.au for more information.

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