Events Management Queensland, organisers of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon, and Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd (GCAPL) have today announced an extension of the 12 year naming rights partnership of the two organisations.

Gold Coast Airport  will remain as the naming rights sponsor to the historical marathon race for the next three years, bringing the already rock solid relationship to a record breaking 15^th year in 2017.

The announcement comes after Sunday’s historic Gold Coast Airport Marathon, which saw Rob de Castella’s 32-year-old Australian all-comers record broken by Kenyan marathon debutant Silah Limo in 2:09:14.

Gold Coast Airport Managing Director Dennis Chant announced the signing of the new agreement this morning.

“Gold Coast Airport is extremely proud of our 12 year naming rights association with the Gold Coast Airport Marathon,” Mr Chant said.

“During this time both Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast Airport Marathon have enjoyed rapid growth. We continue to share our main goals of growing tourism for the region and setting benchmarks in our respective industries that gain international recognition.

“We have witnessed the continued growth of the event in terms of entry numbers, community participation and support, and international interest; culminating in the receipt of an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Road Race Gold Label, making Gold Coast Airport Marathon the first marathon in Australia to receive this accolade.

“Each year, set against the beautiful backdrop of our coastline, thousands of spectators line the streets to cheer on competitors. This event truly encapsulates the spirit of the Gold Coast.

“Gold Coast Airport Marathon allows Gold Coast Airport to demonstrate to other corporate entities our commitment to fostering events that showcase this region to the world and involve the community as a whole.

“We have greatly enjoyed and valued our 12 year history with this event and look forward to playing a continued role in Gold Coast Airport Marathon’s ongoing success over the coming years.”

Since Gold Coast Airport commenced its sponsorship of the iconic event, entries have risen from 9,494 in 2002 to 27,159 registered for the event on the weekend.

The partnership has enabled the event to increase its numbers significantly from interstate and in particular allow the collaboration of the two organisations to see direct flights and increased load numbers from key international markets.

The announcement has further buoyed the already elated Gold Coast Airport Marathon team after what has arguably been the most successful event in the race’s 36-year-history.

“The long standing support we have received from the Gold Coast Airport has undoubtedly helped to put this event on the map,” explained Chairman of Events Management Queensland, Kerry Watson.

“It’s not just the financial contribution provided – it’s the determination of the GCAPL team to leverage their vast aviation industry connections, particularly throughout Asia to open up new markets for us to attract visitors to the event. For example, their work in Malaysia and Singapore to bring Scoot and AirAsia flights directly into the Gold Coast has brought nearly 500 international runners to the event this weekend.

“Many years ago we united in a vision to not only grow the event into the elite standard that you saw last weekend, but to collaborate from a marketing perspective to increase the international number of participants in order to grow the tourism market for the Gold Coast.

“The re-signing of our partnership agreement just shows that the formula has worked. In 2014 we have seen the largest international numbers in the history of the event. By working together and making the event far more accessible to our key markets we have seen the growth we had both envisioned.”

For more information visit goldcoastmarathon.com.au.