Press Release - Vienna City Marathon - 12/6/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
                                   Contact: Andreas Meier (Press Officer)
                                            +43 – 650 350 1488 
                                            

           
                 Organisers announce unique cooperation 
           with Vienna’s world famous Philharmonic Orchestra


Prospects look very promising for next year’s Vienna City Marathon, which 
will see its 23rd edition on 7th May. Preparations for Austria’s biggest 
sporting event are in full progress already. Organisers expect a field of 
about 22,000 runners in various events. The Vienna City Marathon will not 
only be the biggest running event in Austria but also the best quality one. 
"We are looking forward to another high-class competition. Men’s and 
women’s fields will have the quality of the last few years," race director 
Wolfgang Konrad announced. A number of world-class times have been run in 
recent editions of the Vienna City Marathon. Course records stand at 
2:08:35 (Samson Kandie/Kenya) and 2:23:47 (Maura Viceconte/Italy). 

Recently organisers had announced their new motto for the 2006 event: ,Run 
Vienna – enjoy Mozart’. Next year will be the ,Year of Mozart’. So for the 
Vienna City Marathon this was the perfect starting point for a new 
innovation: A combination with classic music that only Vienna can offer. 
Now officials are building on that. It was announced at a press conference 
in Vienna yesterday evening that the Vienna City Marathon and the world 
famous Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will cooperate for the first time.

Runner’s will be able to enjoy finest classical music during the weekend of 
the Vienna City Marathon 2006 and even during their race. On 7th May there 
will be two sorts of marathons in Vienna. Besides the running event a music 
marathon is staged: The famous pianist Professor Rudolf Buchbinder will 
play six piano concerts of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart together with the 
Philharmonic Orchestra. Parts of the concerts will be transmitted to the 
finishing area. At some points of the course classic music will be played. 
The music will be carefully selected with the help of Vienna’s Philharmonic 
Orchestra so that the pieces will suit the certain stage of the race where 
they are played. Additionally all runners will be offered the exclusive 
opportunity to listen to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on the day 
before the marathon. The musicians will then play their dress rehearsal for 
Sunday. 

"Running and music have a lot in common – more than you would think of. 
Both are very emotional and touching," said the chairman of the Vienna 
Philharmonic Orchestra, Clemens Hellsberg, while Professor Rudolf 
Buchbinder added: "Both events will produce top performances. A lot of 
commitment is needed during the preparation and the actual event."

"For the first time the enormous potential of classic music plays a central 
role during a sports event. This connection can nowhere else be as 
authentic as here in Vienna. The Vienna City Marathon will significantly 
differ from all other marathons in the world," Wolfgang Konrad said. 

You may register online now for the 23rd Vienna City Marathon on 7th May 
2006. Please visit the web page of the race at: www.vienna-marathon.com  



                            ###