NYC Marathon Adds ING to Title as Company Signs Sponsorship Deal

June 3, 2003

ING, the Dutch financial services and insurance group, announced that it has concluded an agreement with the New York Road Runners for the first-ever title sponsorship of the New York City Marathon. The city’s world famous race, held each fall, will henceforth be known as the “ING New York City Marathon.”

Shaun Mathews, executive VP and chief marketing officer for ING’s US Financial Services, and Allan Steinfeld, president and CEO of New York Road Runners, made the announcement about the multiyear agreement at the ING New York City Marathon lottery ceremony at Rockefeller Center. The race “annually attracts more than 30,000 participants, more than two million spectators, and a global television audience of more than 250 million viewers,” said the bulletin. The 34th running is scheduled for Sunday, November 2, 2003.

ING’s sponsorship will feature the slogan “ING Run for Something Better.” The company plans to contribute more than $1 million to the program, over the next three years, “including significant contributions to advance running and fitness programs locally and internationally.”

The announcement indicated that “This year, the program will feature four elite international female athletes running not only to win the race but also to raise money for pre-selected programs in their hometowns and New York City. ING, with New York Road Runners will donate funds on the athletes’ behalf to the community projects or facilities. The ING Run for Something Better program was created to support New York Road Runners’ core mission – to promote health and fitness in the local and international running communities. In addition, the program is a reflection of ING’s desire to support and enhance the sport of running in a manner that makes a difference to all constituencies.”

Mathews commented: “ING is thrilled to embark on this new relationship with the New York City Marathon. In collaboration with New York Road Runners, we plan to bring fresh ideas to the race, enhance the experience for the runners and spectators, and also to make a difference in the New York community.”

“We are very excited that New York Road Runners and ING have entered into this unprecedented agreement,” stated Steinfeld. “ING shares our commitment to excellence, the community, and the sport of running.”

Editor’s Comment:
Can the “Hartford Boston Marathon,” the “Aon Chicago Marathon” and the “Firemans Fund Bay to Breakers Race” be far behind?

Topics New York

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