RACEDAY newspapers clippings

BMA Best Wishes for 2010

BLOM Beirut Marathon Race Day, December 6. 2009

Media Accsess Areas on Race day Decmber 6, 2009

Media-only Access Areas on Race Day

The Start Line
· Media bridge at 42.195 Km starts at Tayouneh next to Horsh Beirut.
· Media Bridge at 10 Km and 5 Km start at Wegand St. next to Porsche Company & Biel
· Media representatives are invited to use the reserved parking facing the Military Base, downtown.
· Busses are waiting there to take them to the start lines of the races and to bring them back
Media MUST have their IDs and Parking Passes to be able to park their vehicles inside the mentioned parking. Then they’ll be directed towards the Start Line. They’ll also have access to a media stage which will allow a full view of the Race Starts.

To avoid confusion and crowding at key locations it is very important to note:
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL MEDIA PERSONNEL, TV CREWS & PHOTOGRAPHERS – NO PASS – NO ACCESS!

Start Times

· 6:50 am Marathon Wheelchair Start
· 7:00 am Marathon Start
· 8:00 am 5Km Mini Marathon Star
· 9:00 am 10 Km relay race
· 9:45 am 10 Km Wheelchair
· 10:00 am 10 Km Fun Run


The Finish Line
The Finish Line is in Martyr’s Square next to An Nahar Building. Medical and Media Tents are next to the Finish Line. A media gradin is located few meters behind the Finish Line of 42k and 5k/10k. Please have your Media ID with you to be able to use this gradin and get a great view of the race finish. There is also a Media Center where hospitality is available.
Media Bridges at 5 km / 10 km and 42.195 km access only with Media passes.


Restricted Areas
There is no Media Access to the VIP areas and there is no access to the course Except with a photographer pass or for official authorized live TV coverage. Media cannot access the Awards Stage EXCEPT the official authorized live TV coverage.
VIP: Interview Zone at the VIP area access ONLY for Media Passes.

The Awards Stage
The Awards Stage is located in Martyr’s Square next to the Statue. An entertainment program will take place between 9.00 am and 2.00 pm. The awards ceremony for 5 Km race will start at 9:25 am then the marathon awards ceremony starts at 11.00 am and finish by 11:50 am. Photographers, reporters, and cameramen have a special elevated area right in front of the stage.
Please make sure you have your official accreditation, Media ID, and parking passes to be able to access to these areas! They are available from the media center at the Meridien Commodore Hotel between 2 and 5 December 2009, between 10:00 and 16:00

Registration Closed for BBM 09

BLOM Beirut Marathon 09 Media Center

The Media Center

Before Race Day
The BLOM Beirut Marathon 2009 Press Center will be based at Le Commodore Hotel – Hamra from Wednesday December 2 until Saturday December 5 from 10:00 am till 6:00 pm this is where you can collect your accreditation passes and pick up race info.

On Race Day
On Sunday December 6, reporters and journalists can use the facilities available at the Media Center finish line area which includes local phone lines, fax as well as internet facilities and TV screen that shows the event life coverage.
Award Ceremony will take place at 11:00 am at the Finish Line.

After Race Day
All media related issues can be addressed at Beirut Marathon Association head offices as of Monday December 7th onwards for any enquiries related to media and results. 4th floor, Makateb Building, mar Takla, hazmieh. Beirut. Tel: +961 5 959262 Fax: +961 5 959263 email: lamia@beirutmarathon.org. The essential post race results information will be posted n our website which you can access by logging to http://www.beirutmarathon.org/.

BLOM Beirut marathon 2008 results

BBM08 “With their Strength we RUN” 30 November 2008
63 Countries – 30.000 runners

42.195 Km
Men
1- Alemayehu Shumye (Ethiopia) 2.12.47
2- Michael Kiporir (Ethiopia) 2.16.15
3- Hussein Adem (Ethiopia) 2.16.44

Women
1- Alemtsehay Hailu (Ethiopia) 2.37.20
2- Tadelech Bira (Ethiopia) 2.37.58
3- Wudnesh Nega (Ethiopia) 2.39.09

42.195 Km Lebanese Category
Men
1- Hussein Awada (Lebanese Army) 2.23.56
2- Daoud Moustapha (Lebanese Army) 2.27.28
3- Ahmad Darkoushi (Lebanese Army) 2.30.54

Women
1- Marie El Amm (Lebanon) 3.16.55
2- Elga Trad (Lebanon) 3.28.34
3- Mona Augus Tamim (Lebanon) 3.29.54

Mark Dickinson running in Athens Marathon

بيروت ماراثون تشارك بماراثون أثينا

غادر الى العاصمة اليونانية أثينا مدير عام جمعية بيروت ماراثون السيد مارك ديكنسون يرافقه الفنان النحات رافي توكاتليان وذلك تلبية لدعوة للمشاركة في أعمال المنظمة الدولية لسباقات الماراثون

حيث من المقرر أن يلقي كلمة حول كيفية دعم الماراثونات للأعمال والمشاريع الخيرية وذلك استناداً الى تجربة جمعية بيروت ماراثون على هذا الصعيد . كما يطلع على نشاطات "السمبوزيوم" التي تقام وتتضمن فعاليات وأعمال مستوحاة من رياضة الركض . إلى ذلك فإنه من المقرر أن يشارك ديكنسون وتوكاتليان في ماراثون أثينا 2009 الذي يقام يوم الأحد 8 تشرين أول المقبل في محاولة لقطع مسافة السباق البالغة 42.195 كلم بأفضل توقيت

Plane launching Press Conference

بحضور خيامي وحيدر والعجوز وفعاليات
طيران الشرق الأوسط وجمعية بيروت ماراثون
قدما الطائرة الترويجية لجمعية بيروت ماراثون

عقدت شركة طيران الشرق الأوسط وجمعية بيروت ماراثون مؤتمراً صحافياً قبل ظهر اليوم خصص لتقديم إحدى طائرات الشركة التي تحمل إسم وشعار جمعية بيروت ماراثون والذي عقد في حظيرة الطائرات بمطار رفيق الحريري الدولي وحضره حشد من الشخصيات الرسمية والرياضية تقدمهم مدير عام الشباب والرياضة الأستاذ زيد خيامي ومدير عام مجلس الجنوب عضو اللجنة الرباعية الأولمبية اللبنانية رئيس الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم الأستاذ هاشم حيدر ورئيس الاتحاد اللبناني للكانواي كاياك المهندس مازن رمضان ورئيسة جهاز الإسعاف والطوارئ في جمعية الصليب الأحمر اللبناني السيدة روزي بولس وعضو مجلس بلدية بيروت السيدة رلى العجوز وعضو اللجنة المنظمة لسباق بلوم بيروت ماراثون 2009 المنسق من قبل المؤسسة العسكرية مع جمعية بيروت ماراثون العقيد حسان رستم إلى ممثلي جمعيات وهيئات خيرية ووسائل اعلامية كما حضر عن شركة طيران الشرق الأوسط رئيسة العلاقات العامة السيدة ريما مكاوي ورئيسة القسم السيدة لينا طبارة وفريق اداري ولوجستي وكذلك أعضاء فريق عمل جمعية بيروت ماراثون.
بداية النشيد الوطني اللبناني ثم قدم للمؤتمر المستشار الاعلامي لدى جمعية بيروت ماراثون الصحافي حسان محيي الدين مرحباً ومؤكداً أهمية اللقاء تحت عنوان الترويج لنشاطات جمعية بيروت ماراثون.
وأعطى الكلمة لرئيس مجلس ادارة شركة طيران الشرق الأوسط الأستاذ محمد الحوت الذي نوه بعمل الجمعية وبالنشاطات التي تقوم بها وخصوصاً الحدث الماراثوني في بيروت كل عام كاشفاً عن أن الشركة أخذت قرارها برفع اسم الجمعية على احدى طائراتها كون الجمعية تقوم بنشاط غير عادي يكشف عن وجه لبنان الحقيقي لجهة ما يتعلق بارادة وحيوية شعبه.
وأكد الحدث أنها المرة الأولى التي ترفع الشركة شعار لجمعية أهلية ولنشاط غير حكومي انطلاقاً من أهمية مكانة الجمعية وطبيعة النشاطات التي تقوم بها متمنياً التوفيق والنجاحات المضطردة لهذا الحدث.
ثم كانت كلمة رئيسة الجمعية السيدة مي الخليل التي أشارت الى أن المناسبة اليوم مختلفة في الشكل والمضمون فمن حيث الشكل ، لأول مرة في جمعية بيروت ماراثون نعقد مؤتمراً صحافياً في المطار وتحديداً في مكان مفتوح ورحب كما هي قلوبنا دائماً مفتوحة ورحبة لتتسع لكل الأحبة والشركاء.
أمّا من حيث المضمون فهو ذو دلالات كبيرة وهامة لجهة الارتقاء بأسلوب الترويج لحدث رياضي على وجه الخصوص حيث أن هذه الطائرة العملاقة الجاثمة أمامكم تحمل شعار جمعية بيروت ماراثون وهي عقب هذا المؤتمر سوف تطير نحو العديد من دول العالم ويستوقف هذا الشعار العديد من الناس على مختلف مستوياتهم واهتماماتهم وبذلك نكون قد عملنا على إيصال الرسالة إلى كل الكون والى أرجاء الدنيا.
وأشارت الى أن هذه الخطوة وإن تكن مسبوقة لدى دول العالم خصوصاً تلك التي تستضيف أحداثاً رياضية بارزة لكنها المرة الأولى وعلى مستوى الحدث الماراثوني يكون للرياضة اللبنانية أن تحلق عبر أجنحة الأرز وهذا ليس بكثير على حدث مثل ماراثون بيروت الدولي الذي وصلت أصداؤه الى كل الدنيا.
وختمت قائلة: أتوجه بآيات الشكر والتقدير لمن أعطانا تذكرة السفر لنكون على متن هذه الطائرة عنيت به الربّان القدير محمد الحوت الذي استطاع أن يحلق بشركة طيران الشرق الأوسط ويذهب بها من المعاناة والخسارة إلى حيث النجاحات المتجاوزة كل التقديرات والتوقعات ما يجعلنا نفتخر جميعاً ونعتز أن لدينا شركة وطنية رائدة مثل طيران الشرق الأوسط ولا يفوتني التنويه بأن دعم الشركة كان بدأ منذ عدة سنوات وهو هذا العام بدأ عبر الإعلان الترويجي للسباق والذي يبث على متن طائرات الشركة على كافة الخطوط ونحو كل الجهات.
شكراً لحضوركم جميعاً والى الموعد يوم الأحد 6 كانون أول 2009 ودعوتي في هذا المكان هي تحديداً لشركة طيران الشرق الأوسط رئيساً ومدراء وموظفين وطيارين ومضيفين ومضيفات مع عائلاتهم ليكونوا معنا لأنه "صار وقت نركض".
وكانت كلمة أخيرة لمدير عام الجمعية السيد مارك ديكنسون حيّا فيها الشركة على مبادرتها معرباً عن تقديره لأنها حولت الحلم الى حقيقة داعياً لأوسع مشاركة في سباق بلوم بيروت ماراثون 2009.
تجدر الإشارة إلى أن الطائرة التي قدمت خلال المؤتمر الصحافي سوف تبدأ رحلات جوية باتجاه العديد من الدول الأجنبية والعربية .

It's Time To Run09 on Bridges

The marathon reaches across the city! Spot the marathon banners around the city… spreading the news that “it’s time to run!”

Come and Join our Training Program BBM09

“Come and join in… come and run! The Beirut Marathon Association Training Program is alive and well. Managed by the Veteran Runners’ Association, we are proud to see so many people training to run the 42km marathon… Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 6pm and Sunday at 6am on the Corniche at Ain El Mreisseh facing the McDonald’s. Be a part of it…”

Gatorade activities for BBM09 at ABC

BBM09 Disabled Participation

Mr. Ahmed El Ghoul, BMA assistant volunteers coordinator and Mrs. Lina Zebara, Ciel Association Manager held a meeting on Monday October 26, at Ciel association to increase the participation in the BLOM Beirut marathon 2009,

Rotary Runs in the BLOM Beirut marathon 2009

President of Beirut marathon Association Mrs. May Al Khalil, gave a presentation on Thursday 15th October at the Portemilio Resort, promoting the participation in the Marathon and encouraging Rotary to run, and shared her experience with running and emphasized the importance of this discipline in changing and improving our lives.

The Rotary Club of Beirut Phoenix also shared the logistics of the participation of all Rotarians in Lebanon, and the plan to run is to raise funds in order to eradicate Polio in the world, under the tagline "It's Time To Run Against POLIO".

The presentation was followed by a small gathering which everyone discussed their enthusiasm to participate and make a difference with rotary and BLOM Beirut marathon 09.

GET READY FOR DECEMBER 6, 2009

ARE YOU GETTING READY FOR DECEMBER 6…

The training program of the Beirut Marathon Association is going great… loads of people are joining in.. every day we see more and more runners….

Tuesdays, Thursday’s, Friday’s and Sundays…

Program for 10k and programs for 42k beginners and 42k experts are all available, with coaches taking care!

Gatorade is provided for every participant and Rim water is available at the finish of each run…

Come and join in the fun of running..

NGOs Fundraising in the Marathon World

The Beirut Marathon Association held a NGOs Fundraising Workshop at le Commodore - Hamra, October 14 at 11:00 am, This workshop was held to discuss the way to support the NGOs in Lebanon through sports and especially through the BLOM Beirut marathon event which will take place on December 6, 2009 under the slogan “it’s time to run”.

BLOM Beirut marathon09 NGO's Fundraising Conference

BLOM Beirut Marathon09 Registration Stand AT ABC Mall

The BLOM Beirut Marathon09 Campaign at ABC Mall Achrafieh

BLOM Beirut Marathon 2009 Official Launching Press Conference

BMA Media Iftar 2009

The Beirut Marathon Association is holding an Iftar Feast catered by Socrate
in appreciation of the Lebanese Sports Media
outstanding efforts for 2008 events on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at the Lebanese Golf Club – Jnah

BMA coordinator in Sydney

BMA is proud to welcome it’s new international coordinator in Sydney Australia… Danny Rizk has been following the Beirut Marathon since its inception in 2003 and is a source of information for runners from Australia wishing to participate in the BLOM Beirut Marathon 09 on December 6th.

Czech ambassador visits the BMA

The ambassador of the Czechoslovakia Republic, Jan Cizek, visited the BMA on July 20, 2009. His meeting was promising for the future of the BMA. New suggestions were made for BBM09, however Czech’s involvement will come into bloom for Blom Beirut Marathon 2010.

Jezzine Race

The Lebanese Emigrant and Residence Race 09 (organized by the Relief International with the assistance of the Beirut Marathon Association) in Jezzine started off to a great start on July 26, 2009. The small group of participants of approximately 50, finished off the 4 km race with still enough energy and momentum to celebrate all together on the streets of Jezzine, by cheering and taking part in the Lebanese Traditional Dance.

Schools and universities Giveaway Prizes

Special prizes were given out on July 30 at the BMA offices for schools and universities who competed in the BBM08. School teams from around Lebanon ran a tough race, however there is only first, second, and third place, Jamhour, Antonin, and Shakib al-Nakadi Ideal School respectively. For universities, coming in at first place USJ. Following in respective order, AUB and Haigazian University. These schools and universities showed tremendous effort and team spirit throughout their journey from start to finish.

Bhamdoun Race July 26,2009

Over 500 people participated in the Bhamdoun 5k and 10 K Summer Vacationing 2 races organize by Lions’ International with cooperation of the Municipalities of Bhamdoun and the Beirut Marathon Association on July 26, 2009. May El-Khalil showed her support by presenting the awards to the winners. A special thanks to the BMA Team members who attended and especially to the Marathon League who volunteered their time to organize the start and finish.

Beirut Marathon in many languages

Beirut Marathon Association now in many languages... The BMA worldwide coordinators have started to send their updates in the language of the nation in which they live, and this is spreading the word of the Beirut Marathon further around the world... Turkish, Korean, French... and now in German!
We are now on the website of German Road Races
http://www.germanroadraces.de/24-0-11339-blom-beirut-marathon-am-06-dezember-2009.html

click to check it out!

Makassed Team at the Beirut Marathon Association

The Beirut Marathon Association proudly welcomed the Makassed Team on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 for an afternoon of appreciation at the BMA office. The Makassed are outstanding supporters of the marathon since the first race. The wonderful team of volunteers and scouts, who always promote the marathon on a daily basis, enjoyed a thank you cake with the BMA staff.

BMA Team finds the source of RIM Water

The Beirut Marathon Team visited the Rim water factory in Kaa El Rim on Wednesday July 15, 2009. The experience was awesome! It was great to learn that Lebanon has such an advancement in production and organization, in which can compete with any other nation and stand out on top as Rim proved to be. The team left with a greater understanding and appreciation of how water is processed and packaged. The trip made the team look forward to a wonderful partnership that will grow naturally from Rim’s springs to BMA sprinters.

Braking The Women 's National Record

The Beirut Marathon Association was proud to recognize the achievements of the two women Marathon Champions of Lebanon.

Marie El Amm broke the national record in Rotterdam with a time of 3:07:54 and Maria Pia Nehme broke the record again three weeks later in Zurich just 2 seconds outside a sub 3 hour performance, with 3:00:01.

We look forward to seeing the record broken many more times in the future!

BMA and BLOM Bank another three years

In a press conference held at BLOM Bank Head Offices on Wednesday June 17, the Beirut Marathon Association and BLOM Bank officially announced another three years of flourishing partnership (2010 – 2011 – 2012)

the BMA honoring Maxime Chaaya

The Beirut Marathon Association represented by Mrs. May El Khalil and BMA Team honored Maxime Chaaya for his achievement which he was able to raise the Lebanese flag on the highest summit in the North Pole at the BMA offices in Hazmieh.
Maxime is a member of the BMA Board of trustees in addition to being one of the first to support and participate in our marathons and races.