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Blue Line Will Direct Runners For 26.2-Mile Race
From Start In Staten Island To Finish Line In Central Park
Marathon Expected To Generate Over $110 Million In Economic Activity For City
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today painted the first part of a dashed 26.2-mile Blue Line for the upcoming running of the 31st annual New York City Marathon, which will be held this Sunday, November 5th. The dashed Marathon Blue Line, which will run the entire racecourse, is designed to help direct runners during the race. Over the next two days the line will be completed by the City's Department of Transportation. The Mayor also announced that the Marathon is expected to generate approximately $110 million in total spending and $5.4 million in total City tax revenue.
The Mayor was joined at Tavern on the Green in Central Park by Allan Steinfeld, President of the New York Road Runners Club (NYRRC), Parks Department Commissioner Henry J. Stern and Department of Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall, for this evening's event.
"New York City is extremely proud to welcome runners and spectators from around the world to The Sports Capital of the World for the running of this year's New York City Marathon," said Mayor Giuliani. "Today, the New York City Marathon not only reflects the magnificence of New York City, but it is one of the premier international sporting events in the world. The Marathon is a showcase for New York City - covering all five boroughs and passing through many of the City's great neighborhoods. I want to thank the New York Road Runners Club for organizing this quintessential New York City event, and for all it does year-round to serve the tens of thousands of New Yorkers from all walks of life who love to run."
The race will begin in Staten Island at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge; continue through Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx; and finish in Manhattan in Central Park. Additional information on the NYCM can be found on the Internet at www.nyrrc.org or www.nycmarathon.org.
"This year marks the 25th running of the five borough race and is sure to be a great day for New York," said Mr. Steinfeld. "With this year's record number of applicants from all over the world, we are pleased that the New York City Marathon continues to be the premier sporting event, where the world comes to run."
In addition, for the first time this year, the New York City Marathon will include an officially recognized Wheelchair Division. The top male and female Wheelchair finishers will be recognized and presented with awards in a special ceremony at the Marathon Finish Line and at the Marathon Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening at the Sheraton Hotel's Imperial Ballroom.
The New York City Marathon was founded by Fred Lebow in 1970, when 127 runners completed four loops around Central Park. Since its inception in 1970, 470,000 runners have participated in the Marathon. The November 5th race is expected to draw over 2 million spectators and a television audience of 347 million people in 150 countries.
Joseph Chebet, of Kenya, and Adriana Fernandez, of Mexico, won the 1999 New
York City Marathon in 2:09:14 and 2:25:06, respectively.
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