The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

In its short seven-year history, Marathon Bahamas has received international acclaim and has now been honoured by the government for its impact on Bahamian sports tourism.

Minster of Youth Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson presented Sunshine Insurance with a Tourism Impact Award for its contribution to the niche market.

The organisation was one of several awarded when the Ministry hosted its inaugural Bahamas National Sports Awards 2015 at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island November 21.

Dr Johnson said the event is a major staple in the Bahamas’ continued development of the “Sports In Paradise” initiative.

“This is one of those events that have become a staple on our calendar and you can begin to see why ‘Sports in Paradise’ has meaning in our country. It adds a tremendous boost to our economy and it also shows the rest of the world the Bahamas in a new light. It also shows Bahamians there is room for growth in the sports industry,” he said. “Along with our programme we want to congratulate you for the work that you continue to do. It is noble work, it is a great cause and it is a great event. We can now say marathons are better in the Bahamas.”

Recently, Marathon Bahamas was named in a Runner’s World UK survey entitled the “50 Best Races In The World 2015”.

Marathon Bahamas was named second in the list of 50, ahead of the Paris Marathon, the Moscow Marathon, Niagara Falls Marathon and Melbourne Half Marathon among many others taking place across the globe. The Eiger Ultra Trail in Switzerland was first on the list.

Shelly Wilson, vice president of operations at Sunshine Insurance, said while the international recognition is always welcome, a local honour further solidifies the impact the event has on the community.

“We’ve been around for just seven years so we were quite thrilled with that achievement,” Wilson said. “But now to be recognised by your own we are pleased with the direction we have taken. We know how critical Bahamians can be of each other so to be recognised by the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, not only because we are partners in this endeavour but just to be recognised for our grater expansion into the tourism realm, we are very grateful for that opportunity.”

Marathon Bahamas, which started in 2010, has grown each year and in January, 3,198 participants took part - 2,000 in the Susan G Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure and 1,198 for Marathon Bahamas. The 2015 registration was up from 2014, when 2,529 registrants took part.

The event attracts locals and visitors - in 2015, 675 local participants ran in the marathon (full marathon, half, relay and student relay) while 523 runners from abroad entered the full, half and relay.

“Sunshine Insurance has been doing this since 2010 and it began the initiative we started because we obviously care about the public’s health,” Wilson said.

“Recognising the challenge that cancer presents in the Bahamas, we started this initiative to raise education and awareness as it relates to cancer.

“The Susan G Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure specifically addresses breast cancer, however Marathon Bahamas raises funds for many other charities beyond breast cancer. Really our focus has been on creating that awareness and changing the lifestyles of Bahamians.”