FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gold Coast Airport Boosts Marathon with Three-year Sponsorship

In a massive boost for major events in Queensland, Premier Anna Bligh today
announced Gold Coast Airport has extended its naming rights sponsorship of
the annual Gold Coast Marathon for a further three years.

"Gold Coast Airport will continue as naming rights sponsor of the award
winning and internationally acclaimed Gold Coast Airport Marathon in 2012,
2013 and 2014," said Ms Bligh.

"Gold Coast Airport first signed on as naming rights sponsor for the 2003
Marathon and the new deal will take its sponsorship of the event through to
a 12th year in 2014."

The Premier said the partnership would continue to deliver more visitors to
the Gold Coast.

"The Queensland Government will continue to back the Gold Coast Airport
Marathon," said Ms Bligh.

"Gold Coast Airport has made a significant investment in this major
Queensland event and I thank them for their commitment to an event that
continues to grow and draw visitors from interstate and overseas.

"Since Gold Coast Airport commenced its sponsorship, entries have risen
from 9,494 in 2002 to 24,725 last year.

"The sponsorship by Gold Coast Airport has enabled the event to increase
its numbers significantly from interstate and reach key international
markets particularly Japan, New Zealand and South East Asia.

"Last year this led the Gold Coast Airport Marathon to deliver an economic
impact of $39.45 million for Queensland including nearly 50,000 visitor
nights.

"Hosting major events like this are part of our plan to continue building
Queensland's bright future.

"With the continued support of the Gold Coast Airport, the Gold Coast
Airport Marathon will continue to be one of the City's international
showcase events in the lead-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games."

Gold Coast Airport Managing Director Dennis Chant said the Gold Coast
Airport was very proud of its 10 year partnership with the Gold Coast
Airport Marathon.

"Both Gold Coast Airport and the Gold Coast Airport Marathon have enjoyed
rapid growth since our first year as naming rights sponsor and we continue
to share our main goals - to grow tourism for the region and set benchmarks
in our respective industries that attract worldwide attention," said Mr
Chant.

"The Gold Coast Airport Marathon allows Gold Coast Airport to demonstrate
to other corporate entities a commitment to fostering events that showcase
this region to the world and involve the community as a whole.

"Sponsorship of this event has certainly helped our airport grow and is
credited with helping us secure direct daily flights to Japan, after we
started with charter services specifically for the marathon some years ago.

"Gold Coast Airport management and staff are thrilled to continue our
sponsorship of this iconic event and look forward to continuing our strong
working relationship with Events Queensland."

Events Queensland CEO John O'Sullivan said the sponsorship by Gold Coast
Airport would cement the Gold Coast Airport Marathon's reputation as a key
event on the Queensland calendar.

"The support of Gold Coast Airport over the past 10 years has helped
elevate the Gold Coast Airport Marathon to become one of the world's most
desirable running events.

"Events help build resilience in tourism and this is a great example of how
an event and a sponsor can work together towards this goal."

Events Queensland Gold Coast Chairman Kerry Watson welcomed the sponsorship
renewal as the start of another big year for the Gold Coast Airport
Marathon.

"I acknowledge the tremendous support the Gold Coast Airport has provided
over a long term and has committed to provide for at least another three
years.

"This sponsorship will boost our activity in key markets interstate and
overseas particularly in Japan, New Zealand and Asia where we have recently
secured some major partnerships with other marathon events."

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is owned and managed by Events Queensland
Gold Coast, a subsidiary of Events Queensland on behalf of the Queensland
Government.

Gold Coast Airport is a key component of the portfolio of airports owned by
Queensland Airports Limited that also includes the gateways of Townsville
and Mount Isa.

The 34th annual Gold Coast Airport Marathon will be held on 30 June to 1
July this year. The Gold Coast Airport Marathon is a finalist in the Qantas
Australian Tourism Awards to be held on 2 March.

Visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au

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