FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND ABBOTT ANNOUNCE
MULTIPLE-YEAR SPONSORSHIP OF THE BOSTON MARATHON
Sponsorship complements Abbott's title sponsorship
of the Abbott World Marathon Majors
BOSTON, April 13, 2015 – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today
proudly announced the beginning of a robust sponsorship agreement with
global healthcare company Abbott to become an Official Sponsor of the
Boston Marathon.
Abbott, devoted to developing products and technologies that improve health
and the lives of many, will join participants and fans of the B.A.A. Boston
Marathon to celebrate how people, when at their healthiest, can do more,
achieve more and experience more in life. With nearly 30,000 participants
making their final race preparations, including more than 30 Abbott
employees from around the world, Abbott's activation is underway; the
weekly Abbott Runner's Lounge on the Boston Marathon Facebook page fosters
insight and encouragement across a myriad of topics.
"By partnering with the Abbott World Marathon Majors, and now deepening its
connection with the Boston Marathon on a local level, Abbott has boldly
underscored its mission to enhance the wellness and fitness of marathoners
and aspiring marathoners around the world," said B.A.A. Executive Director
Tom Grilk. "Since 1887, the mission of the B.A.A. has been to promote
health and wellness in our community, especially through running. This
echoes the mission and goals of Abbott, as we align our international brand
with Abbott's global presence."
As title sponsor of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, Abbott is encouraging
sharing medical "best practices" among the six races that make up the
series. In Boston, Abbott is providing i-STAT® systems, handheld blood
analyzers that perform commonly ordered blood tests within minutes,
empowering the Boston Marathon medical staff with information to check
heart function or monitor physical exertion and administer needed care on
site.
"Marathon running represents people living fully, from the seasoned
marathon runner to the casual runner, and everyone in between," said Elaine
Leavenworth, senior vice president, chief marketing and external affairs
officer at Abbott. "Through our partnership with the Boston Marathon, we'll
celebrate the achievement of the marathoners, who embody the idea that good
health is the starting point for everything we set out to accomplish in
life."
Now in its ninth year, and comprised of the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon
with principal sponsor John Hancock, Virgin Money London Marathon, BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, TCS New York City
Marathon, Olympic Marathon and IAAF World Championships Marathon, the
Abbott World Marathon Majors determines the world's best male and female
marathoners, awarding a $1 million prize purse split evenly by the men's
and women's champions. AWMM Series IX began at the 2015 Tokyo Marathon and
ends upon completion of the February 2016 Tokyo Marathon.
About the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through
sports, especially running. The B.A.A.'s Boston Marathon is the world's
oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and
supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs.
Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John
Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon
Majors, along with the international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin,
Chicago, and New York City. More than 60,000 runners will participate in
B.A.A. events in 2015. The 119th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday,
April 20, 2015. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit
wwww.baa.org
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the
development of products and technologies that span the breadth of
healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in
diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic
pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and
employs approximately 73,000 people.
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