Gulf Bank 642 Marathon: the biggest in Kuwait

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11,000 participants from over 107 nationalities join the event

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 27:The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon, one of the biggest social and sporting events in Kuwait and the only local marathon with an international ranking, launched yesterday morning with more than …. participants at the starting line, from …. nationalities, and with …. international participants. In celebration of the widespread success of this year’s Gulf Bank 642 Marathon, Gulf Bank organized an awards ceremony honoring the winners from each race category. The ceremony, which coincided with this year’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar, took place at AlShaheed Park in the presence of team members from Gulf Bank and Suffix (the event organizers).

This year’s marathon kicked off at 7:00 AM at Souq Sharq Bridge amid an atmosphere filled with positive energy and excitement, heightened by the enthusiasm of running through a remarkable marathon route that passes through the most prominent landmarks of the country, including the Kuwait Towers, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center, the Grand Mosque, Souq Al-Mubarakiya, and more. The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon is the biggest sports event that takes place at the heart of Kuwait City, taking runners through beautiful landmarks in Kuwait. Notably, the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon is the only marathon in Kuwait that has the accreditation from “ World Athletics” as “ Raod Race Label” and registered under the list of international Marathon (AIMS) and the Master Participants in the marathon distance has the opportunities to collect points and be selected to “AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings” to participate in the world championship for age group above 40 years Old.

Gulf Bank
On this occasion, Gulf Bank’s Deputy General Manager of Corporate Communications, Ahmad Al-Amir, said, “We are pleased with this year’s record turnout for the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon and with the great diversity of participants, including athletes and beginners of all ages. It truly is days like this that reflect Gulf Bank’s commitment to promoting social sustainability and empowering the local community to enhance their lifestyles and enjoy a healthy and fun family day out in Kuwait.” In his speech, Al-Amir noted that the Gulf Bank Marathon is more than a one-day race — rather, the marathon is an invitation to change our approach to a healthier lifestyle, making exercise and walking a daily habit and an essential part of everyday life. Al-Amir added: “The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon is a unique community initiative combating increasing rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease in our society. By calling for holistic lifestyle changes and social support, the marathon is a sporting event that aims to bring together individuals and families from all parts of society. This is why Gulf Bank has always been proud to be the main sponsor of the annual marathon. For the eighth year in a row, Gulf Bank has been one of the largest private sector institutions working to consolidate its sustainability program at the societal, economical, and environment levels through selected initiatives aimed at enhancing our local society.” Al-Amir concluded his remarks by saying, “We would like to thank all those who participated in making this event an unforgettable day for sports and the local community. We would like to thank the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, the Kuwait Municipality, the Sports Authority, and all our volunteers.

Suffix Sports Management Company
Ahmed Almajed, General Manager at local sports events management company, Suffix, also commented: “We are proud to continue our partnership with Gulf Bank in organizing this outstanding social sporting event. Year after year, the marathon has been a massive success, marked by an increase in demand in local and regional participation.” He added: “We look forward to continually raising the bar for sporting events in the region, and we are extremely pleased with the success of the eighth edition of the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon. We hope everyone enjoyed spending a day full of sports and community at an event of this caliber.”

Almajed pointed out that the eighth edition of the marathon included a variety of new activities and milestones, most notably the awarding of 3 male and female Kuwaiti winners in the 42km and 21km categories, and the establishment of a recovery and medical center at the end of the race track. Gulf Bank’s vision is to be the leading Kuwaiti Bank of the Future. The Bank is constantly engaging and empowering its employees as part of an inclusive and diversified workplace in recognition of every employee’s role in delivering customer excellence and serving the community at large. With its extensive network of branches and innovative digital services, Gulf Bank is able to give its customers the choice of how and where to conduct their banking transactions, all while ensuring a simple and seamless banking experience. Gulf Bank is committed to maintaining a robust sustainability program at the community, economic, and environmental levels through sustainability initiatives that are strategically selected to benefit both the country and the Bank. Gulf Bank supports Kuwait Vision 2035 “New Kuwait” and works with various parties to achieve it.

Gulf Bank’s Booth
At the marathon, Gulf Bank’s booth attracted a number of local and international participants who were eager to check out the Bank’s activities, events, competitions, and prizes.

Diraya Campaign
Activities at the Marathon As part of its keenness to raise financial literacy among society and in keeping with its efforts to support the Diraya campaign, an awareness campaign initiated by the Central Bank of Kuwait and the Kuwait Banking Association, Gulf Bank was keen to promote the campaign during the marathon. Gulf Bank introduced engaging activities and a competition highlighting the main awareness topics of the Diraya campaign with cash prizes for the winners.

Gulf Bank 642 Marathon – By the Numbers

• 46,000 total participants over the years (from first to seventh edition)
• 400 participants in the marathon’s first edition
• 1,000 participants in 2019 (pre-pandemic)
• 2,000 international participants in 2019
• 93 nationalities represented in the marathon’s seventh edition
• 500 annual volunteers

Medals Designed by Local Kuwaiti Artist
As part of Gulf Bank’s efforts to highlight local talent, the Bank was keen to entrust the medal design for the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon, which is ranked among the top 100 sporting events in the world, to Kuwaiti artist, Dana Al Mufarrej.

Societal Community Sustainability
The marathon and routes are designed in such a way as to motivate participants to enjoy a fun family day, even if they do not exercise regularly. The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon was launched for the eighth year in a row to promote societal sustainability in Kuwait.

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