FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE contact:Gilles Gratton
Director, Corporate Communications
ING Canada
(416) 217-7206
gilles.gratton@ingcanada.com
Laurie Davison
Marketing/Communications Manager
National Capital Race Weekend
(613) 277-2980 - cell
media@ncm.ca
ING becomes title sponsor for Ottawa Marathon
ING Ottawa Marathon to host the National Marathon Championship
December 10, 2003 - Ottawa, ONTARIO - The Ottawa Marathon stepped on to the
world stage today as organizers announced that ING will assume title
sponsorship of this premier Canadian running event. Ottawa now joins the
ING New York City Marathon, the ING Brussels Marathon and the ING Amsterdam
Marathon as the fourth city in the ING Globerunners series.
In a second announcement organizers reported that the Ottawa Marathon, part
of the National Capital Race Weekend, has been designated as the host of
the 2004 Canadian National Marathon Championship by Athletics Canada,
making the ING Ottawa marathon a qualifier for the 2004 Summer Olympics in
Athens. The Ottawa Marathon will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a new
one-loop course on May 30, 2004.
The association with ING involves a long-term multi-year commitment to the
ING Ottawa Marathon and is aimed at improving the experience for the
runners, the participants as well as the spectators. "Ottawa has so many of
the ingredients we wanted for our Globerunners initiative in Canada:
reputation, history, a terrific course, a high level of public
participation and support as well as a great organization," says Rick Howe,
Ottawa Regional Vice-President for ING Canada. "ING is excited to be
involved in what we feel is one of the best running events in Canada and we
look forward to welcoming more than 20,000 participants on Sunday, May 30."
"Our association with ING is an amazing opportunity for our running event
and the City of Ottawa. By joining the ING Globerunners series, our
marathon will be recognized among the elite races around the world, which
is terrific news for us," said Susan Longbottom, President of the National
Capital Race Weekend. "ING's dedication and commitment to the sport of
distance running is obvious and they share our vision for the future of
running in Canada."
The ING Globerunners series aims to enhance awareness of the company's
brand by supporting distance running events around the world. Distance
running fits well with ING's values. Running is one of the few genuinely
global sports that is accessible to all. In addition, distance running is
challenging and requires commitment on the part of the runner. The ING
Globerunners series demonstrates ING's desire to add to the development of
the sport of running.
About ING
Amsterdam-based ING Group is one of the largest financial services
companies in the world. In Canada, ING is creating one of the most
innovative financial services organizations by providing insurance, banking
and investment products and services to approximately 4 million customers
via the Internet, over the phone, or in person. ING is Canada's leading
property and casualty insurer and offers a wide variety of financial
products. More than 300 of its employees are located in the Ottawa Area.
About the National Capital Race Weekend
The National Capital Race Weekend, Canada's premier running festival,
combines competition, participation and fundraising to make a distinctive
contribution to the health of the community. The Race Weekend has over
20,000 participants in 9 races, including the ING Ottawa Marathon. It is
run by a volunteer Board of Directors. This year, the Race Weekend is
scheduled for the May 28-30 weekend and the ING Ottawa Marathon will
feature a one-loop course for the first time in over 10 years.
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