Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2009

source from NST

Kuala Lumpur Marathon: FTAAA given the boot, Octagon to take over

THE Kuala Lumpur Marathon is set for a makeover after the Federal Territory Amateur Athletic Association (FTAAA) was unceremoniously given the boot as the event organiser.

Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim said the national body has taken over the KL Marathon and tasked its new sponsor, Octagon with the organisation of the 2009 event, scheduled for June 28.

"Under the Sports Development Act, 1997, any international event held in the country must be held under the auspices of the national body and not a state body," said Karim in explaining MAAU's move in handing the event to Octagon.

Previously known as the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon (KLIM) with Ambank as the title sponsor, the event was the crown jewel in FTAAA's calendar of events with the marathon reaching its peak last year with the participation of 10,000 runners.

KLIM will now be part of the worldwide Standard Chartered series of marathons with the Kuala Lumpur leg to be officially known as the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009.
Karim, however, declined to say if MAAU will allow FTAAA, which is one of the most active sports associations in the country, a role in the running of the event.

"That we will have to discuss with FTAAA on how it can come in. Obviously, the technical ability of the people who used to organise the marathon will still be needed," he said after the official launch of the marathon in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall culture, arts, tourism and sport department director Muhammad Sidek Khalid hopes the marathon will continue to grow from its humble beginning in 1984.

"We have had 17 editions of this event since 1984 and with the re-branding of the marathon, hopefully it will grow bigger and attract more international runners," he said.