New Delhi: Airtel invites all runners to lace their running shoes once again for the world’s most prestigious half marathon race – the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADHM) 2012. Focused on the theme ‘Make Friends with Delhi’– the 2012 leg of this annual sporting event will be organized on September 30, 2012 and flagged off under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
With registrations for the 5th Airtel Delhi Half Marathon now open, over 30,000 sports loving people, health and fitness enthusiasts are expected to once again come together and run alongside world’s best long distance athletes.
The registrations for ADHM 2012 were declared open at an event organized in the presence of Bharat Bambawale (Director - Global Brand, Bharti Airtel), the ‘Face of the Event’ actress Bipasha Basu, high ranking officials from AFI, various partners as well as Anil Singh of Procam International, promoters of the event. This kick-off event was organized at the Official Host Hotel Le Meridien in New Delhi on Thursday.
Announcing the registrations open, Bharat Bambawale of Airtel said, “Our brand identity is fresh, youthful and dynamic - one that appeals to the young. We are always looking for new ways of being relevant to this target group – and what could be a better way of engaging with them than sports and Friendship! ADHM is an occasion that invites all like-minded people to come together in the true spirit of camaraderie and run for a cause. Dedicated to the Spirit of friendship, we invite all ‘Dilike friends’to participate again in large numbers to make this the biggest and best year for the Half Marathon."
The world's most prestigious Half Marathon race, recognized by IAAF as a "Gold Label Event" and certified by the Association of International Marathons and Road Races, returns for the eighth year, and for the fifth time in its current avatar of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon.
The occasion was also used to introduce Max Healthcare and BMW as the new Medical Partner and Vehicle Partner, respectively, to the event. According to Dr Ajay Bakshi, CEO Max Healthcare, “Max Healthcare is delighted to partner with the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon (ADMH), which has been rated as one of the topmost road running events in the world. Our organization places tremendous emphasis upon prevention and wellness and thus supporting this marathon is in complete alignment with our value system.
Through this partnership, Max Healthcare aims to encourage participation from not only its employees but also patients & their families as also from residents of the city. I too have run the half marathon twice in the past years and will be participating again this year. Max Healthcare will be providing complete ambulatory and healthcare support to the participants and officials for the entire marathon route but do hope that the event goes without anyone availing our services extensively!! We look forward to yet another successful run."
Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India said, "Perfectly combining sporty performance with the highly efficient use of energy, every BMW incorporates the great spirit of the long distance race. BMW India is proud to be associated with the spectacular event to celebrate the unstoppable and indomitable spirit of Delhi."
‘Face of the Event’, Bipasha Basu will be promoting the ‘Bipasha Women’s Brigade’ through the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2012, encouraging women to cultivate health and fitness. “A healthy and fit woman, be it a mother, wife, sister or daughter makes for a healthy and a fitter home and a fitter home leads to a fitter society. Hence when women make fitness a part of their daily life it creates a change for the good,” said Bipasha Basu.
Prize money of USD 210,000 on offer helps the event maintain its status as the world's richest half marathon and is expected to attract 40 of the world's top 100 male and female long distance athletes. The event will also witness the presence of some of the biggest names from the world of sport as Event Ambassadors.
Top Road Running Competition in the World: The 2011 edition of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon was adjudged the Top Road Running Competition of the World according to the Competition Rankings ofAll-Athletics.com, the world’s most comprehensive athletics database.
The Rankings are based on the participation of top athletes plus the achieved results. The Airtel Delhi Half Marathon was adjudged best in all three categories, namely men and women combined; men only and women only. The event scored over much older and established events like the Ras-Al Khaimah International Half Marathon (UAE), the Philadelphia ING Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon (USA), the Den Haag City-Pier-City Half Marathon (NED) and the Lisboa Meia Maratona de Lisboa (POR).
Boost to serious runners: The practice of putting a chip on the shoes of all half marathon participants since the last three years has been welcomed by one and all and has helped elevate the level of the half marathon field to an extent where all participants in that category can be termed serious runners.
Going further, promoters Procam International will recognize the efforts of the serious runners by offering priority starts to them based on their timings. Based on the timing certificates, runners will be eligible for priority lineups on race day and will be divided into four sections. The first section will be for runners under two hours, followed by those between 2 hours and 2.30 hours. The third section will be for runners of 2.30 to 3 hours. The fourth section will be for runners of 3 hours and above and those with no timing certificates.
The timing certificate will also ensure that the applicant gets preference over non-timed participants in the registration process. There will also be a number of running places reserved for women applicants to encourage them to train and run in the half marathon. Applicants who are not timed will fall in the open category, for which there will be limited places that will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis.
It is evident from the number of people registering for the half marathon, that the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon has helped inculcate the culture of running and fitness among the populace of Delhi. Last year around 8,000 people registered for the half marathon and the figure is expected to be higher this time around as 10,000 running spaces have been reserved for the Half Marathon category.
Besides the Half Marathon, which occupies pride of place, race day has been packed with features like the Great Delhi Run, the Senior Citizen's Run and the Wheelchair Event, giving every Delhiite above the age of 12 an opportunity to emerge winners in their own right.
Inter-Collegiate Sporting Challenge: Delhi’s Universities and colleges enjoy a rich and glorious sporting tradition and have helped create many national and international sportspersons in various disciplines. The Inter-Collegiate Sporting Challenge will now give these colleges a further opportunity to earn for themselves the unique distinction of being the Champion College of the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. What better platform than an International event and what better inspiration than to be running alongside some of the world’s and India’s leading long distance athletes.
While invitations will be sent to all the universities of Delhi, participation will be restricted to only 20 college teams and entries will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. Only two teams will be allowed per college (one male team and one female team) and each team should comprise three members between the age of 17 to 23. Each member will be required to run approximately 7 kms.
The champion college will win prize money of Rs 30,000 and a replica of the rotating trophy, while the Runner-up team will take home Rs 15,000. The members of the winning teams will be presented with medals and merit certificates, while participation certificates will be awarded to the members of all the other teams.
Registration process for Airtel Delhi Half Marathon 2012
• Registration can be done online through the event website www.procamrunning.in or duly filled entry forms, along with the applicable fee, can be mailed to P.O. Box No. 3634, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi -110 024.
• Local Delhi & NCR residents can also deposit their application forms along with requisite entry fees at the nearest Easy Bill outlet in Delhi & NCR. To know the locations of Easy Bill outlets, please log on to www.procamrunning.inor contact our event helpline number +919650033333.
• Application forms are also available online and at select Easy Bill outlets, select Reebok outlets, Airtel Relationship Centres, Le Meridien at Windsor Place, Janpath Road, New Delhi, Concern India office at A-52, Amar Colony 1st Floor, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi and at the Concern India office, A-52, Amar Colony, 1st Floor, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi.
• Further details can be got from the event helpline number +91 96500 33333, toll free for Airtel subscribers and chargeable as per standard call rates for non-Airtel subscribers, which will be open from 10 am to 7 pm, Monday to Saturday. Registration details can also be sourced from the event website www.procamrunning.in. The E-mail id is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
