ING and New York Road Runners Extend Agreement for Title Sponsorship of ING New York City Marathon
First-ever title sponsorship by ING proved successful; Ongoing partnership to benefit race participants, spectators and running programs locally and internationally
PRNewswire
NEW YORK
Mar 1, 2005
ING and New York Road Runners announced today they have extended an agreement for ING's title sponsorship of the ING New York City Marathon through 2007. Both partners continue to focus on improving the marathon experience for runners, as well as for spectators and the community at large. ING became the first-ever title sponsor of the ING New York City Marathon in 2003.
"We created a new beginning when ING partnered with New York Road Runners," said Toby Hoden, chief marketing officer for ING US Financial Services. "Today we are delighted to extend our partnership to continue building on our collaborative success of the last two years. The energy of the ING New York City Marathon is just incredible; it really brings to life ING's commitment to the sport of running."
In addition, the ING New York City Marathon gives ING a touch point with the people of New York and the U.S. - and even the world - to help create greater awareness of the ING brand. The marathon boasts more than 35,000 participants, a leading professional field, 2.5 million spectators, and more than 240 million television viewers in 119 countries.
"The past few years have featured some of the marathon's finest moments, culminating with last year's dream race and the memorable victories by Paula Radcliffe and Hendrik Ramaala," said Mary Wittenberg, executive vice president and chief operating officer of New York Road Runners. "We welcome ING back to join us for three more exciting years as we continue our collaboration to make the marathon the world's most celebrated road race."
A key cornerstone of ING's sponsorship is the ING Run for Something Better. Established in 2003, the program features four world-class female athletes competing not only to win the ING New York City Marathon, but also to raise money for New York parks, track and field programs, and community organizations that promote fitness and sports in the U.S. and abroad.
In addition, ING Cheering Zones, established in four New York neighborhoods along the marathon route, create a rallying point on race day for local residents.
The 2005 ING New York City Marathon is Sunday, Nov. 6. ABOUT ING
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to over 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 115,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand.
In the U.S., the ING family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://www.ing.com/ .
ABOUT NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS
Founded in 1958 with a membership of 47, New York Road Runners (NYRR) is one of the world's foremost running organizations. NYRR is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of running and walking for health, recreation, and competition, and provides full professional services related to all aspects of racing. The organization has a full-time staff of more than 60 employees, supplemented by a network of thousands of volunteers, serving more than 40,000 members from every U.S. state and more than 100 countries.
ABOUT THE ING NEW YORK CITY MARATHON
The ING New York City Marathon is the premier event of New York Road Runners (NYRR). Inaugurated in 1970 with 127 entrants, it has grown into the world's premier road race, featuring 35,000 participants, more than two and a half million spectators, a leading professional field, and a guaranteed prize purse of more than $500,000. Broadcast across the nation and in 125 countries worldwide, and seen by 275 million viewers worldwide, the 26.2-mile footrace is the United States' most watched one-day sporting event. The ING New York City Marathon joins the USA Men's 8K Championships and the Circle of Friends New York Mini 10K as the cornerstones of the NYRR Professional Racing Series and continues NYRR's tradition of bringing the very best runners in the world to New York City. For more information visit http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/ .
Press inquiries: ING Christina Divigard, 860 723 2293 or christina.divigard@us.ing.com New York Road Runners Richard Finn, 212 423 2229 or rfinn@nyrr.org
SOURCE: ING; New York Road Runners
CONTACT: Christina Divigard of ING, +1-860-723-2293, or
christina.divigard@us.ing.com ; or Richard Finn of New York Road Runners,
+1-212-423-2229, or rfinn@nyrr.org