The Indian Cultural Association (ICA) announced the launch of itsgreatly anticipated first International Half-Marathon, on the 13th of August, at the Courtyard by Marriott, Colombo. This is set to kick off, early morning, on September 1st, 2024, beginning and ending at the Galle Face Green, Colombo. The event aims to position Sri Lanka as a prime destination for both leisure and sporting events to attract global attention, with the objective of registering over 1400 athletes from various countries and promote tourism too.
Captain Anirban Banerjee, the President of the ICA, described their commitment to making this event possible, in order to cultivate a better Sri Lanka. As the country will become more recognized for sports tourism and outdoor recreation, cultural exchanges will be possible and Sri Lankans will also be encouraged to engage in physically challenging activities. The response from both their local and foreign audience has been very positive, most of the latter travelling to a tropical country for the first time. Thus, this event is set to be one of a large scale, and is backed by our country.
The marathon route has been carefully mapped out, as was presented at the Launch; starting and ending at Galle Face Green, the participants will be taken through some of Colombo’s most scenic locations along the city and also the coast, including Marine Drive and Galle Road. The race categories include the Half Marathon at 5.00am (21.0975 km), Challengers Run at 5.30am (10 km) and a Family Run at 6.00am (5 km), encouraging more people to choose a race that they can participate in to the best of their ability. Following this run, breakfast will be provided too. This shows us how the event is not just about competition but encapsulates ideas of health, unity, community support, and sustainable tourism. A revenue accumulation of USD 5 million can be generated from this event, used for various activities to improve Sri Lanka.
>>Photo | ICA Half-A-Marathon 2024 – Launch and Press Conference<<
The respective male and female winners will be rewarded with trophies and prize money: 1st Place: Rs. 1,000,000; 2nd Place: Rs. 500,000; 3rd Place: Rs. 200,000 and many consolation prizes, as mentioned by the Vice President of the ICA, Jayadratha Das. Each and every participant will receive a medal and a certificate too, endorsed by the supporting organizations. As the ICA is a non-profit organization, all proceeds will be given back to Sri Lanka and used for initiatives such as promoting organ donation, improving the facilities of orphanages and a long-term green effect for the country too.
Captain Banerjee also brought out how from the global number of 1 lakh 60 thousand people who lose their lives each day, around 1 lakh of them die due to organ failure. Thus, he hopes to raise awareness about the act of voluntary organ donation, as one person has the ability to save many lives, and this will be promoted at the event. Additionally, Na Trees, the National tree of Sri Lanka, will be planted in many local schools to symbolize the green footprint of the race participants. Further, the ICA has a notable history of providing aid to orphanages, from food during the economic crisis to computers for online schools, and plans on continuing to give aid with the profits from this event.
The Indian Cultural Association of Sri Lanka, (established in 2018 by a group of 160 Indian expatriates), is a vibrant community that celebrates and promotes Indian culture and traditions in Sri Lanka. With the conclusion of the event, there will be song and dance performances that will showcase the rich cultural diversity of both these countries. Through events like the half-marathon, the ICA continues to strengthen ties between the Indian community and the diverse population of Sri Lanka. Only a limited capacity of 2,000 participants can register for this event; early registration is recommended. All registrants will receive a t-shirt, finisher medal, goodie bag, breakfast, water, electrolytes and medical assistance from Kings Hospital and Asiri Hospital, who offer complementary healthcare.
For registration and more information, visit www.icainternationalmarathon.com/registration or contact +94 76 54 92 856.
 announced the launch of itsgreatly anticipated first International Half-Marathon, on the 13th of August, at the Courtyard by Marriott, Colombo. This is set to kick off, early morning, on September 1st, 2024, beginning and ending at the Galle Face Green, Colombo. The event aims to position Sri Lanka as a prime destination for both leisure and sporting events to attract global attention, with the objective of registering over 1400 athletes from various countries and promote tourism too.){kind=link}