Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Amman International Marathon, HRH Prince Firas bin Raad, honored a number of individuals, companies and institutions supporting Samsung Amman International Marathon on Friday evening. The supporters included the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) represented by a number of departments that have efficiently provided logistical support to the Marathon, in addition to the King Hussein Cancer Foundation.
During a ceremony attended by their Highnesses, Prince Raad Bin Zeid (the Chief Chamberlain), Prince Mired Bin Raad, and Princess Dina Mired, HRH Prince Firas expressed his appreciation to all government, private and public organizations that have provided technical and material assistance that helped make the Marathon a success.
He noted that Amman has provided a panoramic image combining the civilized and human features of the past, and the present, indicating that the marathon annually forges a sportive tradition to encourage tourism, sports and humanitarian work, as well as disseminating the running culture.
After the end of the race, Maani, together with the Director of Samsung Jordan crowned the first place winners of Samsung Amman International Marathon in GAM headquarters plaza within a festive ambiance.
Maani stressed the importance of this sporting, social, and cultural event, referring to the keenness of the Municipality to support the Marathon, in order to expand the participation base on both the local and international levels.
He further added that the Marathon is set to give the Marathon an international, sportive, and cultural touch, as well as consecrating the cultural and international dimensions of Amman as an advanced metropolitan city, placing it on the international map.
The Kenyan Sireem Benjamin, was the first place winner of the mens category with a timing of (2:17:05), the Ethiopian Ibrahim Belet, was the second place winner with a timing of (2:17:16), third place winner was Kebede Windinson with a timing of (2:18:31).
All of the three winning places in the womens category have gone to Ethiopian runners; first place winner was Estru Ahlmync (2:43:52), second place winner Arsidi Sesay (2:43:54), third place winner Geoffar Zinaurk (3:15:49).
In the 10 km race, the first place winner was the Ethiopian, Zegaza Zlaliem (0:30:02), the second place winner was the Jordanian Rafat Al Zboun with a time of (0:30:14), the third place winner was Suleiman Al Qadran from Jordan with a time of (0:30:24). As for the women’s category, the first place winner was the Ethiopian Tejist Inoue (0:34:39), the second was Sojood Al Khutbeh from Jordan (0:38:40), the third was Oroubeh Al bwat (0:42:27).
In the 4 km race, the first place winner was Ahmed AL Shammalat from Jordan (0:12:07), the second was Zaki Atiyat (00:12:08), the third was Amer Axayj (0:12:17). In the womens category, the first place winner was Sarah Al Sabbagh (00:13:23), the second was Rawan Muslim (00:13:59), the third was Ravada Al bwat (0:15:10).
Deputizing for Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, HRH Prince Firas bin Raad, gave the signal for Samsung Amman International Marathon, which witnessed the participation of about 10 thousand contestants from Jordan and the world over, to kick start.
Mayor of Amman gave the signal for the 10km race at 10.a.m. in front of the Royal Cultural Center, which witnessed noticeable participation on the part of contestants who rushed in big crowds towards the finish line.
On his part, the City Manager, Eng. Ammar Gharaibeh, gave the signal to the 4km race which kicked start at Al-Qaisiyeh Circle.
Participating in the 10km race, in addition to Princess Dina Mired and Princess Ghaida Talal, HH Prince Firas Bin Raad who expressed his happiness for participating in the event, adding that he hopes to see positive results each year. He also stressed that the Jordanian runners should be given the opportunity to train on such races, and to be given the chances to interact with professional, international runners, which is bound to prepare them to participate in foreign events, scoring record numbers that should raise Jordans name high in international marathons.
The marathon was concluded in an atmosphere of a carnival, where Star Academy Artist, Mohammad Ramadan gave a singing performance with which the marathon audience, who came to the festivity site at an early hour, immensely interacted with the show.
Additionally, the program included folkloric shows performed by GAM Troupe, which was well received by the public who came from all parts of the Arab World,
citing, at the same time, admiration of the touristic, heritage and cultural sites of Amman, which were clearly depicted at the various stations of the race.
Amman was in a real carnival, with balloons covering the skies of the Capital. These festive balloons were donated by the sponsors and suppliers, namely, the title sponsor, Samsung, the official supporter, GAM, the Golden sponsors, Abdali Project and Arab Bank, the Silver Sponsor, Zain. In addition to all other sponsors and supporters including: Aquafina Water, Ofloat Design & Production, Fitness First, Jordan Pioneers Multimedia Co., Regency Palace Hotel, Jordan Television, Al Rai, Al Ghad, Al Dustoor Newspaper, Omnia Media, Pikasso, JorMall, Hawa Amman Brodcasting, Aramex, and BioMedix.
Management of the Marathon utilized a new electronic system along the respective tracks to keep record of the various time, as accurately as possible. The system has helped control violations materializing in the 4km race, a rectification well received by all participants.