Record-breaking 9,300 participants run for a cause

Kuwait, 16 November 2019: Yesterday, Gulf Bank wrapped up one of its biggest community events of the year, as a record number of participants hit the streets to run for a special cause. Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait, Dr. Mohammad Al-Hashel, and Gulf Bank CEO, Mr. Tony Daher, attended this year’s Gulf Bank 642 Marathon, which was an unprecedented success with over 9,300 attendees representing over 100 nationalities competing, and over 300 volunteers.

The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon kicked off at 7:30 AM at Souq Sharq, and took runners through beautiful landmarks across Kuwait. Participants made their way along Gulf Road, jogging past the Grand Mosque and Souq Al Mubarakiya, where local vendors cheered on participants and added to the incredible atmosphere of the day. Depending on the distance category, runners continued on their respective running paths, jogging past a variety of Kuwait’s beautiful landmarks, from the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Center to the Kuwait Towers, before crossing the finish line.

Gulf Bank is committed to maintaining a robust corporate social responsibility program. Every year, Gulf Bank extends it support to local youth initiatives, proudly advocating for women empowerment, sustainability, health and fitness, and building on the legacy of Kuwait’s heritage and history. This year, Gulf Bank 642 Marathon partnered with Kuwait Red Crescent Society to bring medical aid to those who are unable to afford medical treatment, providing support in covering the provision of medical devices including pacemakers, cochlear devices, hearing aids, electric wheelchairs, and stents.

For the fifth year in a row, Gulf Bank held the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon in partnership with Pro-Vision Sports Management. The race consisted of four categories that were open to runners of all abilities, including: the 5K Family Fun Walk/Run, the 10K Souq Run, the 21K Half Marathon, and the 42K Full Marathon.

The Gulf Bank 642 Marathon is the only marathon in Kuwait that has the AbbottWMM accreditation. The AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings is a global age group marathon ranking system. Runners who participated in the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon 2019 will get a chance to qualify for the age group ranking program, earning points according to their age, time and gender, aligned with the following age groups for men and women: 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+.

Gulf Bank employees also shared in the day’s fun, with 450 Gulf Bank employees participating in the run. Groups from other local companies also enjoyed their day outside of the office working on their health and fitness together, including: Alghanim Industries, AlYasra, IKEA, AlFuttaim, Fit Group, Grey Wolf Drilling International, Gulf Agency Company, Fantasy World, AlTamimi, Casio, Limitless, Flare Fitness, Vitality Fitness Center, the Touristic Enterprises Company, Garmin, and Aljeraiwy.

Gulf Bank also hosted the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon Exhibition, a three-day health and fitness event that took place from November 12-14 at Kuwait International Fairgrounds (Hall 4A). This year’s main sponsors included Kuwait Airways, Lincoln Alghanim, Extreme Sports, and Intersport. The exhibition included a number of health and fitness-related discussions, as well as activities for participants to enjoy.

Commenting on this year’s Gulf Bank 642 Marathon, Mr. Ahmad Al Amir, Assistant General Manager for External Communications at Gulf Bank, said: “This year’s Gulf Bank 642 Marathon was an unparalleled success, with more than 9,300 runners from over 100 nationalities competing, and over 2,200 international participants, including athletes and professional runners who came from all over the world to participate in Kuwait’s only AbbottWMM-accredited marathon. It gives us great pride to see the marathon growing in success year after year, and we would like to thank all those who participated in making this year’s Gulf Bank 642 Marathon an unforgettable experience. We would like to extend a special thanks to the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Kuwait Municipality, Public Authority for Sport, and all our volunteers. We are proud to be a part of an annual community initiative that reflects our commitment not only to Gulf Bank’s corporate social responsibility program, but our greater commitment to our beloved homeland, Kuwait.”

For more information regarding the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon, and to view the marathon winners’ names, please visit www.gulfbank642marathon.com or check out the Instagram account @GulfBank642.