All 300 SCMS 2013 Ekiden Slots Snapped Up In 40 Minutes

All 300 SCMS 2013 Ekiden Slots Snapped Up In 40 Minutes

More than 2,500 runners signed up at the launch event for Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2013

Singapore, 4 July 2013 - The ever popular team-based Ekiden category proved once again to be the bestseller at the launch of the 2013 edition of the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS). Even with the increase in Ekiden slots to 300 this year, it took less than an hour to fill up all available slots. Registration kicked off at 11.00am this morning at The Event Square, Waterfront Promenade @ Marina Bay, where people started to queue as early as 8.30am yesterday morning to secure their running slot.

2. "We are very encouraged with the continued strong response to the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore, especially for the Ekiden race category where all slots have been taken up. It reinforces the marathon as the pinnacle running event in Singapore. As the only IAAF Gold Label event in Singapore, we will strive to ensure another quality event come 1 December 2013," said Mr Lim Teck Yin, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and Chairman of the SCMS 2013 Organising Committee.

3. SCMS 2013 has made provision for 62,000 slots - up from 60,000 offered last year - with the Half Marathon category accounting for the additional 2,000 slots being made available. When the launch event registration closed at 4pm today, more than 2,500 runners have already registered their participation. Online registration will commence at 6pm today (Thursday, 4 July 2013) on the official SCMS website

4. The launch was officiated by Guest-of-Honour, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Lawrence Wong, who, together with Mr Richard Seow, Chairman, SSC; Mr Lim Teck Yin, Chief Executive Officer, SSC; and Mr Ray Ferguson, Chief Executive, Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore, released helium-filled golden balloons - with encouraging messages attached - into a specially constructed giant tree-shaped cone structure. This was proceeded by hundreds more green and blue balloons filling the cone structure, each with messages written by participants waiting in line to register.

5. Mr Ray Ferguson, Chief Executive, Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore, said: "Standard Chartered Bank is proud to have played a part in nurturing Singapore's passion for running. This is the 12th year that the Bank is the title sponsor of Singapore's pinnacle running event. The passion, courage, and determination of the runners each year resonate strongly with what we stand for as an organisation. Just as the runners are determined to finish the race, we are committed in our partnership with the SSC to deliver a quality race for all. This is very much part of our DNA and what we set out in our brand promise to be Here for good in the communities where we operate."

New Sponsors

6. While Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore continues to be the event's title sponsor, SCMS 2013 sees two prominent additions to its sponsorship portfolio this year.

7. Luxury Swedish automaker, Volvo, takes over the reins as SCMS 2013's official car. Known for its support of lifestyle pursuits, Volvo is the ideal fit for Singapore's marquee sporting event.

8. International sports apparel brand, Brooks, also comes onboard as official apparel sponsor, bringing with it a taste of the creative innovation that has garnered them a strong following among runners worldwide.

9. Both Volvo and Brooks join other longstanding event sponsors including Prudential, Seiko, Tiger Balm Active, StarHub, and many others.

Registration Proceeds to Benefit SportCares

10. This year, SCMS 2013 will donate S$2 from every participant's registration fee to SportCares, a new philanthropic organisation dedicated to use sport as a force for social good. Through the SCMS 2013 registration, the Singapore Sports Council hopes to raise at least S$100,000, which will go toward SportCares' programmes and activities for underprivileged children and youth at risk. Furthermore, donors can also contribute individually through the Give.Asia fundraising portal to pledge their run and raise funds for SportCares.

11. Added Mr Lim: "SportCares was set up to improve access and opportunities for people who lacked the resources to participate in and grow through well-designed sport. With the money raised, we will be able to do more through our SportCares' programmes to help people push beyond the limits of their experience and discover their true potential. I hope that SCMS 2013 will lead the way and inspire more individuals and future sports events organisers to support the SportCares movement."

Fact Sheet

Annex A: Race Categories and Prices

Annex B: List of Sponsors and Partners

1. About 100 Plus
Singapore's No. 1 isotonic drink, 100PLUS, was launched in 1984 to satisfy the growing demand for a sports-based beverage. This specially formulated 'thirst and body-quencher' helps to replenish lost fluids and combat the effects of dehydration, heats, and exertion - supporting you while achieving peak performance in your active lifestyle.

100PLUS hydrates you by combining fluids, glucose and electrolytes for quick and efficient restoration of the body, better than water can. The combination of glucose, electrolytes and fluids help to accelerate the body's absorption of fluids, while the glucose provides an immediate available source of energy needed by the muscle tissue.

100PLUS is available in regular, tangy tangerine and lemon lime flavours that may come in 330ml cans, 500ml PET bottles, and 1.5L PET bottles at all leading stores. 100PLUS carries the "Healthier Choice Symbol" for meeting the category criteria of having less than 7g of sugar per 100ml.

For more details, please visit http://www.100plus.com.sg.

2. About Brooks
Brooks® Sports, Inc. is your go-to company for anything and everything related to the run. As a leading running company that designs and markets high-performance men's and women's running shoes, apparel and accessories in more than 40 countries worldwide, we are dedicated to inspiring people to run and be active by creating innovative gear that keeps them running longer, farther, faster and happier. For more information, please visit http://www.brooksrunning.com.

3. About Prudential
Prudential Singapore, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-based Prudential plc, is one of the top life insurance companies in Singapore. We are one of the market leaders in investment-linked plans with over S$8.2 billion funds managed under PruLink funds as at 31 December 2012. With a rich history that has spanned more than 80 years, Prudential Singapore now has a dedicated team of approximately 3,400 financial consultants and over 700 employees. We are committed to serving the needs of more than 740,000 policyholders with over 1.8 million policies.

Prudential Singapore is the first life insurer in Singapore to be named Asia's Life Insurance Company of the Year in 2000. We were also presented with the Gold Award in Reader's Digest Trusted Brands for five consecutive years from 2007 to 2011 and the May Day Model Partnership Award in 2009. In 2010, we emerged as one of the top insurers in Singapore in the Customer Satisfaction Index, which is a national barometer that tracks 104 companies from eight sectors. The company was also conferred the People Developer Award in 2012 by SPRING Singapore for the company's efforts in training and developing its staff.

For more details, please visit http://www.prudential.com.sg.

4. About Seiko
Since being established in 1881, SEIKO has contributed to society with one revolutionary product after another - starting with the production of Japan's first wristwatch in 1913 and including the creation of the world's first quartz watch in 1969. SEIKO has also been the official timekeeper at many international sporting events since the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964. SEIKO has been privileged to share moments of tremendous excitement with athletes and spectators worldwide. From the very start, Kintaro Hattori was determined to be at the forefront of the industry and his oft-repeated credo was "Always one step ahead of the rest." Thanks to a continuous stream of industry-leading innovations over the decades, the company established, and has maintained its position as a world leader in the technology of time.

Today, SEIKO is a true 'manufacture,' making all its own components, from advanced IC's to balance springs, and it is the only 'manufacture' with a variety of watchmaking technologies, mechanical, quartz, Kinetic, Spring Drive and GPS Solar. Through watches, SEIKO seeks to share the passion and pride in production, to deliver exceptional products that represent innovation and perfection to watch lovers all over the world.

Visit www.thongsia.com.sg to find out more.

5. About Tiger Balm Active
Introducing Tiger Balm ACTIVE, the range of muscle rubs, gels and sprays, specially formulated by Tiger Balm, the name you can trust. Designed for the active individual with an active lifestyle, Tiger Balm ACTIVE is what you need for warm-ups, cool-downs, as well as relief of your muscular aches, pains and strains. So go on. Step up and get Active!

• Tiger Balm ACTIVE Muscle Rub
  Non-greasy feel
  Good for muscle aches, pains & strains
  Also effective for pre-sports warm up

• Tiger Balm ACTIVE Muscle Gel
  Non-sticky feel
  Combats fatigued muscles & aids muscle recovery
  Also good for post-sports cool down.

• Tiger Balm ACTIVE Muscle Spray
  For fast & easy application
  Relieving sore and aching muscles in hard to reach areas

For more details, please visit http://www.tigerbalm.com/sg/range/20.

6. About Starhub
StarHub is Singapore's fully-integrated info-communications company, offering a full range of information, communications and entertainment services for both consumer and corporate markets. StarHub operates a mobile network that provides 4G, 3G and 2G services. It also manages an island-wide HFC network that delivers multi-channel pay TV services (including HDTV, Internet TV and on-demand services) as well as ultra-high speed residential broadband services. StarHub operates an extensive fixed business network that provides a wide range of data, voice and wholesale services. Over Singapore's fibre-based Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network, StarHub offers a broad range of home and business broadband plans along with a host of advanced media-rich value-added services, such as IPTV for commercial entities.

Launched in 2000, StarHub has become one of Singapore's most innovative info-communications providers, and the pioneer in 'hubbing' - the ability to deliver unique integrated and converged services to all its customers. StarHub, listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange since October 2004, is a component stock of the Straits Times Index and the MSCI Singapore Free Index.

For more details, please visit http://www.starhub.com.

7. About Volvo
As the Official Car Sponsor of Standard Chartered Marathon 2013, Volvo is proud to provide a fleet of cars that reflect the common athletic traits of agility, performance and excellence. The presence of these Volvo cars at the event will echo both the dynamism and energy of Standard Chartered Marathon 2013. For more information, please visit www.volvocars.com/sg or the Volvo showroom at 249 Alexandra Road today.

8. About Nathan Performance Gear
Inspiration.

It's what drives our athletes to be better, stronger, faster. It's why they refuse to accept limitations, and why they train harder, aim higher, and "redefine humanly possible" by overcoming impossibilities. Our athletes serve as our inspiration for relentless innovation. Like our athletes, we are in a tireless pursuit of excellence - they drive us to design and refine, and inspire new features, products, and categories.

It's this tireless pursuit that has made Nathan Performance Gear a world leader of innovative hydration, reflective, and multisport gear and accessories. Nathan's line of race belts and vests, bladder packs, handhelds, runner's packs, bottles, and reflective vests and accessories continue to help athletes of all levels redefine humanly possible. Available in specialty running shops, sporting goods stores, and over 35 countries worldwide, Nathan Performance Gear is a subsidiary of Penguin Brands, Inc.

9. About Shotz Sports Nutrition
Interestingly Shotz was developed originally for endurance events but now is being used in all types of sports and activities. From sports lasting as little as three minutes through to multi-day events, from ball sports to water sports and everything in between. Shotz is the brand of sports nutrition products respected by world-class athletes and active lifestyle enthusiasts at all levels and from all walks of life. To the consumer, the Shotz brand represents not only a lifestyle but superior product quality, the state-of-the-art in performance nutrition science, and an unparalleled level of customer care.

WHAT WE ARE. We are a sports nutrition company developing and manufacturing state of the art active lifestyle nutritional products. We don't make lollies and market them as sports nutrition products.

WHAT WE ARE NOT. We are not a marketing company with mediocre products.
It is important to know the difference.

10. About Give.Asia
GIVE is Singapore's leading online charity fundraising platform that allows people to donate or fundraise for the charity of their choice in a simple, fun and easy way. Tens of thousands of people use GIVE regularly to do good to support hundreds of charities that are listed on the platform.

To learn more, visit www.giveasia.org.