Marathon Flame celebrates 2,500th anniversary of the first-ever Marathon

TORONTO, Sept. 23 /CNW/ - Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM) will mark the historic 2,500th anniversary of the first-ever marathon run by Pheidippides in 490AD, by welcoming the official Marathon Flame for the 2010 race weekend. This year's event is set to attract more than 20,000 runners from over 40 countries, and aims to raise more than $2.5 million for 115 local charities through the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge.

Highlighting this year's elite pack is returning champion Kenneth Mungara of Kenya. In 2009 at the STWM Mungara set a course record for the fastest time ever ran on Canadian soil with a time of 2:08:32. Also featured this year are, Guelph clubmates, Eric Gillis and Reid Coolsaet who are competing together to push Canada to the front of the pack and make just-announced qualifying standards for the London 2012 Olympic Marathon. The women's field is STWMs best-ever and creates the distinct possibility that we may also see the fastest Women's marathon run on Canadian soil by Trifini Beyene Tsegaye or Firehiwot Dado of Ethiopia, or perhaps Alevtina Ivanova of Russia.

WHAT:  Lighting of Marathon Flame
           Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon News Conference,
           introducing this year's elite athletes
           Launch of the Runner's Expo

    WHO:   Alan Brookes - STWM Race Director
           Robin Hibberd, Executive Vice-President, Retail Products and
           Services, Canadian Banking, Scotiabank
           Dimtris Azemopoulos - Consulate General of Greece in Toronto
           Elite Athletes
           Celebrity Torch Relay Runners

    WHEN:  Friday, September 24, 2010
           9:30 a.m. - Torch Relay run from Nathan Phillips Square to
           Princes' Gates at Exhibition Place
           10:30 a.m. - Flame Lighting Ceremony in front of the Direct Energy
           Building where the Flame will burn until moved on the evening of
           September 25th
           11:00 a.m. - STWM Sports Media Conference at the Direct Energy
           Building

    WHERE: Direct Energy Building
           100 Princes' Blvd Toronto, ON M6K 3C3

    Race Weekend Agenda:

    Friday, Sept 24th

    9:30 a.m. - Torch Relay run from Nathan Phillips Square to Princes' Gates
    at Exhibition Place
    10:30 a.m. - Flame Lighting Ceremony in front of the Direct Energy
    Building
    11:00 a.m. - STWM Sports Media Conference at the Direct Energy Building

    Saturday, Sept 25th

    Evening - The Flame will be moved to Nathan Phillips Square ahead of race
    day

    Sunday, Sept 26th

    7:30 a.m. - Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront marathon begins
    10:30 a.m. - Post Race Press Conference in City Hall, Room 2
    12:00 p.m. - Awards ceremony; Laurel Wreath presentation to race
    Champions
    2:00 p.m. - Final Flame extinguishing ceremony

This year's marathon experience will be enhanced with the release of the STWM Navigator, a free-mobile application that will help guide participants and spectators during the Marathon Weekend. This tool includes six key components: RUN, PLEDGE, CHEER, VOLUNTEER, SOCIAL and EVENT INFO. These components will guide users through the STWM course and the City of Toronto by highlighting key-marathon locations and providing useful information.

About Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada's premier Fall Marathon holding the record for the fastest marathon ever on Canadian soil with a time of 2:08:32 in 2009. Awarded the Silver Label by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) for the third consecutive year, the STWM is one of The Country's No.1 big-city marathon. For the third consecutive year, the event has been awarded a prestigious Silver Label making it one of only five internationally recognized, IAAF Label marathons in North America. The STWM attracts participants from more than 40 countries and through the Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge, aims to raise $2.5 million for more than 115 local charities. For more information, visit www.stwm.ca

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work, both in Canada and abroad. Recognized as a leader internationally and among Canadian corporations for its charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2009 the Bank provided about $39 million in sponsorships and donations to a variety of projects and initiatives, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education, social services, sports and arts and culture. Visit us at www.scotiabank.com.