FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Elements Add to Gold Coast Airport Marathon in 2009

The 31st annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon to be held on Sunday 5 July
will feature a new segment to its waterfront course, a brand new race on
its program and a new home for the Asics Sport & Leisure Expo and
Registration Centre.

Queensland Events Gold Coast General Manager Cameron Hart said these
changes will add additional appeal for participants and the community as
well as streamlining the operation and management of the event.

The full 42.195km Gold Coast Airport Marathon course which starts at the
Southport Broadwater Parklands will this year stretch all the way to a
southern turnaround point at Burleigh Heads, rather than the previous
turnaround at Miami.

"This will add another scenic and flat section to the course at the
southern end taking in one of the most beautiful and well known beaches in
the world, Burleigh Heads," said Hart.

"The marathon course will take participants into another beautiful part of
the Gold Coast and continue its standing as one of the most picturesque
courses in the world."

A new 5km event to be called the Gold Coast Bulletin 5km Challenge has been
added to the program for both runners and walkers, replacing the previous
7.5km Walk.

"The addition of the Gold Coast Bulletin 5km Challenge will be a great
introduction for those runners who may not feel ready to tackle a 10km race
just yet," said Hart.

"The new event will allow a runner to start with the 5km this year and then
'Embrace the Next Step' to a longer distance next year.

"The 5km is also a good distance for the walkers, many of whom are
participating for the health and fitness benefits as well as to enjoy the
atmosphere of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon with friends or colleagues."

The Event Registration Centre and Asics Sport & Leisure Expo will this year
be located at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre at Broadbeach
from Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 July, moving from its previous temporary
facility in the Start and Finish Precinct at the Southport Broadwater
Parklands.

"The move to a permanent convention and exhibition centre will enhance the
standard of our expo and registration centre," said Hart.

"With our significant growth in participant numbers over recent years,
moving the expo and registration centre offsite will free up much space for
additional race day infrastructure and reduce traffic congestion around our
race precinct in the days leading into the event.

"It also enables greater visitation to the Asics Sport & Leisure Expo by
the wider community to check out the latest in fitness and sporting
products and services."

Following the success of the 2008 event, a number of initiatives launched
last year will also continue including 5km split times for the marathon and
a webcast, both live on the official website www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au.

This year's race start times on Sunday 5 July are as follows:
6.15am - Wheelchair Half Marathon
6.20am - Asics Half Marathon
6.45am - Southern Cross University 10km Run
7.30am - Gold Coast Airport Marathon
8.25am - Gold Coast Bulletin 5km Challenge
10.00am - 2.25km Junior Dash
10.30am - 4km Junior Dash

The full Gold Coast Airport Marathon will have a cut-off time of 6 hours 30
minutes this year ensuring all races have concluded by 2.00pm.

For further information including entry fees visit
www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au. Entries will open for this year's Gold Coast
Airport Marathon on Tuesday 14 April via the website.

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