A record 50 per cent of the entries for the 2024 Gold Coast Marathon have sold in the first three weeks of event entry opening for next year’s 6-7 July event.

With an early entry offer that holds the 2023 entry prices until the end of the year, the event is experiencing unprecedented interest with a surge of registrations from key international markets.

Events Management Queensland Chair Paul Donovan said more than 8000 people had entered across the nine race weekend events with more than 60 per cent of those entries coming from interstate or overseas.

“We predicted international participation would make a significant comeback in 2024 and we are delighted with entries from 28 countries including Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, China and New Zealand which represent more than 10 per cent of entries so far.

Mr Donovan said the 2024 Gold Coast Marathon was shaping up to be a return to the halcyon days’ pre-pandemic and the strong response to the early entry opening was a great indicator that next year’s event was well and truly on track to eclipse the 24,500 participants in 2023.

Events Management Queensland CEO Ben Mannion said the interstate markets had also stepped up to the start line early for the 2024 event with 27 per cent making the trek from Victoria closely followed by more than 21 per cent heading to the Gold Coast from New South Wales.

“These figures are a tangible endorsement of the quality and experience the Gold Coast Marathon delivers for participants, spectators, family and friends.

“This year the event delivered an economic impact of almost $37million, an increase of more than 29 per cent on 2022.

“This is indicative of an increasingly positive trend where event specific nights in Queensland increased from 88,032 in 2022 to 106,743 in 2023 – people love our events and the experiences they offer,” Mr Mannion said.

The 6-7 July 2024 Gold Coast Marathon weekend will feature the 42.195km marathon, the CPL Wheelchair Marathon, ASICS Half Marathon, Southern Cross University 10km Run, CPL Wheelchair 10km,Gold Coast Airport 5km Run, Wheelchair 4km race and the 2km and 4km Junior Dashes.

Hardy runners can contest the Gold Coast Double 63.3km which includes Saturday’s half and Sunday’s full marathon.

The Gold Coast Marathon is organised by Events Management Queensland and is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Events Management Queensland acknowledges and pays respect to the Kombumerri people of the Yugambeh language region, the Saltwater People of the Gold Coast, as the traditional owners of the lands and waters upon which we invite and welcome participants from across the globe to experience our events.