Bangkok, 21 September, 2018 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced the launch of the ‘ASEAN Together Run 2019’ virtual running event, adding to Thailand’s crowded running calendar.
Mr. Tanes Petsuwan (above photo, centre), TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said: “The inaugural races correspond with the government’s sports tourism policy to promote and position Thailand as a sports tourism destination and as the sports hub of ASEAN.
“It is also in line with the TAT’s ongoing strategy to promote the region as a single tourist destination, following the integration of the ASEAN Economic Community, as well as to boost intra-regional travel.”
Mr. Tanes also cited the world tourism trends that indicated sports tourism as having a high growth potential.
“Thailand, for example, has about 12 million runners, or 17.4 per cent of the population. From ASEAN’s population of 652 million people, if counting only countries that running is popular among their people, which are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, that translates into over 55 million active runners in this region.”
The ‘ASEAN Together Run 2019’ virtual running event is being held under the concept of ‘Run & Travel’ through a virtual run, encouraging people to run anywhere in ASEAN.
Runners can register for the event from 18 September, 2018, and can accumulate their distance until ASEAN Day on 8 August, 2019. The run is divided into five levels:
- 5 km for those who are interested in starting their first run.
- 21 km for those who start falling in love with running and want to develop their potential to the next level.
- 42 km for those who overcome the limit and want to keep practicing running.
- 100 km for those who run for passion and want to be a tough runner.
- 200 km for those who want to be a full runner and step into a full race.
The accumulative distance of 652,190 kilometres – the figure equivalent to the current ASEAN population – of all participants will be converted into donations to UNICEF.
Mr. Alongkorn Jiamanukulkit, Managing Director of Raceup Work and Race Director of the ASEAN Together Run 2019, said the many highlights includes the special medal design with the concept of ‘The One”, that parallels with the slogan of ASEAN as ‘One Vision, One Identity, One Community’.
The medal is designed in an ‘O’ shape with five separate pieces to be assembled together. Each has a landmark image of the ASEAN countries; namely, Grand Palace for Thailand, Borobudur for Indonesia, Merlion for Singapore, Petronas Towers for Malaysia, San Agustin Church for the Philippines, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque for Brunei, Ha Long Bay for Vietnam, Patuxay for Lao PDR., Shwedagon Pagoda for Myanmar and Angkor Wat for Cambodia.
“Each participant will receive a piece of the medal after the end of the race. Each piece can be assembled together to complete the whole medal by receiving the centre from TAT once the participant runs in, at least, one of the ASEAN countries outside the country of residence and also has one run in Thailand,” Mr. Alongkorn said.
Participants will have a chance to win a special package ‘Run & Travel in Thailand’. The package includes a runner’s card of Thailand’s famous marathon together with transfers, accommodation and much more.
For more information and registration, visit: www.aseantogetherrun.com
