Getting back in step

Hugh Naylor

• Last Updated: May 12. 2008 10:56PM UAE / May 12. 2008 6:56PM GMT

Competitors jog along the marathon route. Philip Cheung / The National

ABU DHABI // As the organisers of the capital’s marathon set about planning the 2009 event, one question remained foremost in their minds: how to turn the shambles of 2008 into a classic among the world’s city centre races.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has made clear to officials of the Armed Forces Officers’ Club (AFOC), which runs the Zayed International Marathon, that he expects a distinct improvement in the way next year‘s run is promoted.

February’s race – at 21km, technically a half-marathon – was marred by a series of organisational shortcomings.

Thousands of primary school children, lacking adequate supervision, trampled over municipal flower beds and broke water pipes. Many would-be spectators missed the race altogether because information leaflets gave inaccurate times.

Motorists were seen driving dangerously close to special needs participants taking part in the race in wheelchairs. And at Marina Mall, the starting point for the run, professional athletes had to warm up on the entrance steps as shoppers passed to and from the centre.

“Of course, the good thing about us is that we admit that things were not perfect,” said Mohammed al Ameri, a member of the AFOC organisation committee.

A few days after the marathon, AFOC members were summoned by Sheikh Mohammed to a special meeting at the Royal Palace and told to ensure higher standards at future races held in the capital.

The Crown Prince also emphasised the need to raise the event’s profile, setting in motion exploratory discussions that have already covered plans to convert the race to a full marathon beginning next year and secure wider international recognition.

“Sheikh Mohammed said we need to do better at getting the word out to the media, especially the international media,” said Dr Abdullah Reyes, an AFOC member who attended the special meeting. “Given the prize money [Dh7.5 million (US$2m) in total] he thinks that future marathons should be much more internationally focused.”

As a first step, the AFOC has appointed the New York Road Runners, a non-profit organisation responsible for changing the face of world marathons, to help manage next year’s race in Abu Dhabi.

City marathons around the world have been influenced by the big and brash New York model, which is seen as the inspiration for modern road races and attracts 100,000 applicants each year, all of them anxious to experience the thrill of crossing the finishing line in Central Park.

The AFOC says a deal has already been signed to hand over some of the management responsibilities to the New York group. “Having the Road Runner people here will be good for us because they have experience and years of know-how,” Mr Ameri said.

Various proposals were canvassed during the meeting with Sheikh Mohammed, including one to create a new body in Abu Dhabi that would organise world sporting events. Called the Zayed Foundation for World Sports Events, it would aim to establish the capital as the host of major sporting events such as WTA and ATP tennis tournaments and golfing majors.

Dr Reyes said later that there was even a possibility of incorporating the marathon into the World Marathon Majors, a circuit comprising the top five marathons in the world: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London and New York.

The committee has also held discussions with the New York City Marathon’s race director, Mary Wittenburg, about Abu Dhabi being added to the majors or entering some form of partnership with the American event. Ideas include an annual championship run for winners of each of the majors, to be held in Abu Dhabi every year with generous prize money. “This would be the grand prix of marathons,” said Dr Reyes.

No final decisions have been taken on the more innovative proposals. But AFOC officials, who admitted that this year’s race was beset with management errors, insisted that work was in progress to ensure a much smoother 2009 event.

Mr Ameri said all suggestions would be studied, adding that it had not yet been decided whether next year’s marathon should take place on a weekend. There were complaints that this year’s race, held on a warm weekday afternoon, clashed with the work times of people who would have liked to attend it and also produced needless difficulties for the runners.

“The reason why we held it on a Thursday was that more children were able to participate,” he said. “The problem with having a race on a Friday is that it’s the day of rest for everyone. We’re not sure if we would have as many children who would come and participate if we held it on a weekend.”

But Mr Ameri is confident that the agreement with the New York Road Runners will lead to improvements. As well as offering management assistance, the Americans will introduce a sophisticated tracking system, with computer chips placed in runners’ shoes to allow organisers to monitor participants more accurately as they run along the course.

hnaylor@thenational.ae