The Kenya Tourism Board is hopeful that the 2022 Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon will provide another opportunity to showcase the country as a sports tourism destination.
This year's edition will be held on October 30 and the organisers, Standard Chartered bank, have partnered with KTB in driving awareness thus attracting more participants.
"One of our key objectives is to elevate the overall experience of the marathon and to use the event as a platform to showcase and appreciate our culture and heritage as a country," said Peter Gitau, Standard Chartered Marathon chairman.
"Partnerships are critical in the realization of this mission and we are delighted to partner with KTB so that, together, we can promote sports tourism as well as our culture and hospitality.”
KTB will also seek to ride on the wave of recent performances by Kenyans on the major city marathons including Eliud Kipchoge, a world record at the Berlin Marathon, Amos Kipruto's win at the London Marathon as well as Benson Kipruto and Ruth Chepngetich's dominance at the Chicago Marathon.
“As we gear up for one of the biggest city marathons in the region, we are confident that the partnership will help us create awareness about Kenya’s rich and diverse culture," said KTB CEO Betty Radier.
"We are banking on the marathon to further enhance Kenya's reputation as a top tourist destination. This event brings together people from the region and the goal is to ensure that people from across the world can come and experience our passion for running."
Radier observed that the partnership comes at a time when there is an uptick in the number of tourists visiting Kenya following concerted marketing efforts by KTB and other partners both public and private.
Since its inception in 2003, the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon has grown tremendously earning recognition from World Athletics and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).
The marathon has, over time, attracted over 250,000 participants across 18 editions to become the largest single-day sporting event in Kenya.
Last year, the marathon successfully launched the first hybrid marathon with some runners taking part physically and others virtually. This attracted over 5,800 virtual participants from across 61 countries and 2,500 elite and fun runners participating in the physical marathon.
This year’s route for the physical marathon on the Southern Bypass will allow runners to experience a great view of the Nairobi National Park.
