Indiantelevision.com Team

(26 March 2008 9:30 pm)

BANGALORE: Member of parliament and president of the Indian Olympic Association Suresh Kalmadi and sports authorities from the state announced that Procam International's (PIL) 10000 meter (10K) run will be held on 25 May.

ITC-Foods division brand 'Sunfeast' has been roped in as the main sponsor. The event has been labeled as the 'Sunfeast World 10K-Bangalore'.

Procam is touting the run as the richest 10K run in the world with prize money of $ 150000. The six races include –world 10K Elite Men; world 10K elite Women; Senior Citizens run (4 KM); wheelchair event (4 KM); Open 10K Run and Majja Run (5.7 KM).

PIL has been conducting the Standard Chartered Marathon run in Mumbai and the Vodafone Half-marathon run in New Delhi since the past few years.

During its last edition, the Mumbai run had over 30000 participants and helped raise around Rs.300 million towards charity. The Delhi run had over 25000 participants and helped raise around Rs.150 million for charity.

"We expect around 20000 participants for the Sunfeast World 10K-Bangalore run in the first year", said PIL joint MD Vivek B Singh.

Said ITC–Foods division CEO Ravi Naware, "Since its launch, Sunfeast has constantly endeavored to bring high quality, healthy and tasty products to its consumers."

The event has been certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and is being conducted under the aegis of the Athletic Federation of India and the Karnataka Athletics Association and is being supported by the government of Karnataka and the Department of youth services and sports as per an ITC release.

Sunfeast World 10K-Bangalore will be telecast live on CNBC-TV 18, IBN7 and Doordarshan-National. The radio partner is Radio Mirchi – 98.3. ITC's Windsor Manor Hotel is the hospitality partner.

The other partners are Standard Chartered Bank (financial services); The Times of India (print);Kingfisher (water); Kingfisher Airlines (airline); Prasar Bharati (broadcast); CNBC TV 18 and IBN7 (channel); Manipal Cure & Care (medical); Nike (running); Indiatimes.com (internet).