News & Releases >> Jan 23 2008
STWM announces IAAF Silver Label and move to Nathan Phillips Square
TORONTO, January 23, 2008 — Organizers today announced exciting new course changes to this year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, including the Start and Finish venue, which will change to Nathan Phillips Square at Toronto City Hall. This world-class marathon, recently awarded an International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Silver Label, will take place on Sunday, September 28, 2008.
"Scotiabank is especially proud to be able to support and enrich our community through an event that continues to grow on an international scale as it becomes recognized by organizations like the IAAF," said John Doig, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Marketing. "With every year that passes and every change the marathon experiences, we are seeing more runners, more spectators and greater community involvement and more money for the local charities associated with this event."
The City of Toronto, with strong support from Mayor David Miller, has recently confirmed that the ninth edition of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon will start and finish at Nathan Phillips Square — Toronto City Hall.
"With its rapid growth in participants, the major charitable contributions the marathon brings in, and its record-breaking times, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has become a signature event for our city," said Mayor David Miller. "We are delighted to have the race start and finish in the heart of Toronto at Nathan Phillips Square."
The 2008 marathon will start and finish on Bay Street at Albert Street and will continue southbound on Bay Street before joining the original running route turning East on Wellington and Front Streets. The move will change only the first and final 600 metres of the internationally-renowned, flat and fast course along Lakeshore Boulevard.
"We're absolutely thrilled with this year's changes to the marathon — the new location and the recent IAAF recognition," said Race Director Alan Brookes. "This label recognizes the efforts of our sponsors, City staff, volunteers and the organizing team who put the event together. The Silver Label puts Toronto and the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on the world map."
The IAAF is the world governing body for athletics and road racing, based in Monaco. The organisation governs and helps execute the technical aspects of athletics at the Olympics and World Championships, and are the global authority on the sport of running. Both Gold and Silver marathon/road race labels for 2008 were announced by the IAAF prior to the holidays.
The Gold and Silver Label system is a new initiative, designed to recognize and promote excellence in marathons and road races, as well as athletics. This year only 40 Silver and 12 Gold Labels have been awarded globally, recognizing 52 international road running events. In Canada, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and the Ottawa Marathon and 10K are the only label recipients.
For a complete list of the 52 IAAF Gold and Silver Label races worldwide in 2008, see:
www.iaaf.org/LRR08/results/
Last year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon saw a record of 12,311 participants and raised more than $900,000 for 50 local charities. Kenyan John Kelai broke a 31-year-old record of the fastest marathon ever run on Canadian soil with a time of 2:09:30. The event was also televised live on CBC Country Canada television and broadband internet — both firsts for a Canadian marathon. For more information and registration, please visit www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com.
The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has become one of the premier sporting events in Toronto and across North America. It is recognized as an international celebration of athletics and a community celebration of healthy living and of a great city. Over the past five years, the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge has raised more than $2.85 million for local charities across the GTA. Each year, more money is raised, bringing more runners and their families from all over the world to Toronto.
Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2007 the Bank provided more than $43 million in sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education and social services. Scotiabank is on the World Wide Web at www.scotiabank.com.