BBC Worldwide are delighted to announce that this year’s Flora London Marathon will be televised in a record 162 countries. The event, which is celebrating its 25th Anniversary, has this year attracted a number of leading international broadcasters who are taking live pictures of the race on Sunday, 17 April (0755 – 1100 GMT).

A world-class field has been assembled by Race Director David Bedford, including the Olympic champion, Stefano Baldini (Italy), World Champion, Jaoud Gharib (Morocco) and the World Record holder Paul Tergat (Kenya). The race also provides an opportunity for past winners like Evans Rutto (Kenya), Abdelkader El Mouaziz (Morocco) and Antonio Pinto (Portugal) to win what is now undoubtedly the world’s top road race.

The Women’s race will be equally competitive with a very close race expected between the world record holder, Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, China’s Sun Yingjie and the Kenyan duo Tegla Loroupe and Joyce Chepchumba.  Radcliffe will be looking to repeat her success at the New York Marathon in November where she narrowly beat another Kenyan, Susan Chepkemai.

BBC Worldwide’s Sport Sales Manager, Richard Hornsby-Smith, commented, “We are absolutely delighted with the level of interest in this year’s Flora London Marathon. It is a great way to celebrate the event’s 25th Anniversary. Once again a fantastic field has been assembled for this year’s race which illustrates that The London Marathon is truly the world’s leading marathon.”

Those broadcasters interested in the rights to the London Marathon should contact:

Richard Hornsby-Smith
Sport Sales Manager, BBC Worldwide
Tel: (44) 20 8433 2476 Fax : (44) 20 8433 2897
e-mail: richard.hornsby-smith@bbc.co.uk