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Three World-Famous Landmarks In One Event
13 April 2003Entrants in the 2003 Sunday Telegraph 10km Bridge Run will have a famous icon in their sights with the Sydney Opera House announced as the new finishing point.
NSW Minister for Tourism and Sport and Recreation Sandra Nori said the announcement meant that the State Government's legacy event to the "best Olympic Games ever" would now incorporate the three famous landmarks showcased to the world in 2000.
Ms Nori said the Olympic legacy event - the Flora Sydney Marathon incorporating the Sunday Telegraph 10km Bridge Run - would also offer runners a third option this year, the Flora Sunday Telegraph Half Marathon.
"The half marathon will follow a similar route to the marathon, closely following the famous blue line and finishing at Sydney Olympic Park, alongside the burning flame of the Olympic cauldron," she said. "All three runs will cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge."
The event - the only community road race that closes the bridge to traffic - will be held on Sunday, September 14 as part of the celebrations surrounding the Sydney 2000 Olympics opening ceremony.
"The Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Olympic Park were the three key venues shown to the world during the Olympics," Ms Nori said. "It is fitting that they now feature in the NSW Government's legacy event. The event embraces two key elements of the Olympic Games - sport and tourism."
"Last year the event attracted 10,000 Australian and international entrants. Already, one-third of the received entries are from overseas runners representing 13 countries," Ms Nori said. "With the inclusion of the Sydney Opera House as the 10k finishing point, this is one of the world's most spectacular community sporting events."
Event organisers, Frontiers Group Australasia in partnership with Athletics Australia, said there will be post-race celebrations at both finishing venues.
"The post-race entertainment is as much a part of the event as the thee runs because it adds to the sense of occasion and celebration," said Event Director Graeme Hannan. " After the 10k runners finish at the Opera House, they will be ushered to the Royal Botanic Gardens where there will be entertainment, refreshments and a corporate marquee village. Similarly, the marathon and half-marathon runners will be able to join in the annual Olympic anniversary celebrations at Sydney Olympic Park. Again, it is all about recapturing the spirit of the Sydney Olympic Games, which was both a sporting event and a party. "
The new course for the Sunday Telegraph 10k Bridge Run is from North Sydney Oval, down Miller St to the Pacific Hwy, across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the Cahill Expressway, then Macquarie St, Art Gallery Rd, Mrs Macquaries Rd and back down Macquarie St to the Sydney Opera House finish.
Entries are being taken online at www.sydneymarathon.org.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Mary-Anne Dibbs on (02) 8907 9474 or 0419 288 102
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