Zug, Switzerland - Infront and the Shanghai Marathon, the latest event to be announced as an Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) candidate, have entered into a partnership through its organiser, the Donghao Lansheng Group.
The agreement allows Infront to support the candidacy and the Shanghai Marathon with strategic and operational consultancy, expertise in marketing, international promotion, sponsorship, media, and production throughout the evaluation phase and beyond.
China is one of the biggest and fastest-growing running markets worldwide.
The announcement marks the commencement of a multi-year evaluation process by AbbottWMM. Shanghai now joins the TCS Sydney Marathon and Sanlam Cape Town Marathon as races introduced into the candidate program by Infront under their strategic partnership with Abbott World Marathon Majors. The Shanghai Marathon will replace the Chengdu Marathon as China’s representative in the candidacy process.
To become a Major, the Shanghai Marathon will need to meet strict criteria over a three-year period. If successful it will join an esteemed group of races - Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, TCS London Marathon, BMW-BERLIN Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon - as a new member of the prestigious AbbottWMM in 2027 at the earliest.
Dawna Stone, CEO of Abbott World Marathon Majors, said, “AbbottWMM is delighted to welcome the Shanghai Marathon into the candidacy process from 2024. This presents an exciting opportunity to expand our impact into Asia/ China and further our mission to create, grow and support opportunities for all to discover the power of the marathon community. We look forward to working closely with the team in Shanghai as we start this journey together!”
The Shanghai Marathon can count on the strong support of its organising company, the Donghao Lansheng Group, one of the world’s leading modern services companies in China.
Mr. Cao Wei, Chairman of Donghao Lansheng Group, said: “On behalf of the Donghao Lansheng Group, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the Shanghai Marathon for successfully becoming an Abbott World Marathon Majors candidate race! This recognition is the highest affirmation of our event organization and service, as well as a testament to our tireless efforts. As the first marathon in China named after a city, the Shanghai Marathon has adhered to the highest industry standards since its inception. Over the years, it has continuously forged ahead with unwavering determination and relentless efforts, always prioritizing the runners' experience while striving for excellence. In the future, the Shanghai Marathon will continue to focus on the principle of "runners first", maintain the highest standards and quality, and work diligently to improve event services, aiming to establish itself as a new benchmark in global road running. Let us join hands to take on new challenges and create an even brighter future for the Shanghai Marathon!”
Hans-Peter Zurbruegg, Senior Vice President Active Lifestyle at Infront, said: “Shanghai is the perfect candidate to put one of the most important running markets on the world map of marathons. We are proud to partner with Shanghai Marathon and will work closely with all stakeholders involved to elevate it to the highest level, making it a member of the AbbottWMM Series. With the on-going candidacies in Sydney and Cape Town, Infront has a lot of expertise to share, and we are proud to continuously work with the teams of AbbottWMM. The Shanghai Marathon will inspire hundreds of thousand runners in China and globally, contributing to a healthier and more active lifestyle across generations while showcasing Shanghai as a modern global city.”
The marathon in Shanghai will be a flat and fast course, showcasing Shanghai’s most scenic and iconic landmarks. The Shanghai Marathon weekend attracted over 30,000 participants across all its distances in 2023 and will take place again on Sunday 1 December 2024.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) is a series of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world - Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, TCS London Marathon, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon.
Encompassing an annual series for elite runners and elite wheelchair athletes, AbbottWMM also applauds the achievements and passion of everyday champions from around the world. The AbbottWMM Six Star System is an online results hub that celebrates every runner who has completed from one to six of the races in the series and encourages them to 'Reach for the Stars'.
The AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Rankings comprise over 350 marathons worldwide to rank runners aged over 40 against their peers. The fastest athletes in each age group are invited to participate in the AbbottWMM Marathon Tours & Travel Age Group World Championships annually. The 2024 championship took place within the TCS Sydney Marathon. The 2025 championship will take place within the TCS New York City Marathon.
The AbbottWMM Global Run Club aims to bring together the global community of marathon runners on a virtual platform.
For more information, visit www.Abbottwmm.com and www.Abbottwmmglobalrunclub.com