By V. Sivaji
Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Wong Hon Wai has stressed the need for the Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM) to go beyond attracting record numbers of participants by developing a pathway for junior runners to emerge as world-class athletes.
He said PBIM had the potential to become more than just a mass participation event, serving as a platform to raise the standard of distance running in Malaysia while putting Penang firmly on the international marathon calendar.
PBIM is already recognised by international bodies such as the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and Abbott World Marathon Majors (Abbott).
The next major milestone for the organisers is to secure World Athletics Label Road Race accreditation, which would further enhance PBIM’s standing as a road race meeting high international standards in terms of quality, safety and organisation.
Wong said this would strengthen PBIM’s appeal among serious marathoners and elite runners planning their racing seasons around internationally recognised events.
“We want to raise the profile of PBIM through the World Athletics Label Race accreditation. For the state government, PBIM is more than a race. It is a platform that showcases Penang to the world — our heritage, our hospitality and our ability to host events of genuine international standard,” he said.
Wong was speaking at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ceremony between PBIM, Malaysia Athletics and the Penang Amateur Athletic Association at Komtar earlier today.
Also present were Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh, Acting President of Malaysia Athletics; V. Govindasamy, Secretary of the Penang Amateur Athletic Association; Ms Nadiah Wong Abdullah, Divisional Director of Corporate Division, Aspen Group; and Ms Jo Saw, Deputy Commercial Manager of Klippa Shopping Centre, among others.
Wong, who is also the organising chairman of PBIM, said the MoU marked an important step in the marathon’s development as it seeks to strengthen its position on the international racing circuit.
“The MoU signed today marks an important step for PBIM as we want to get on the radar of serious marathoners planning their season around races that count.
“What this MoU now unlocks is the next, and arguably the biggest, milestone still ahead of us — World Athletics Label Race status,” he added.
With stronger links to Malaysia Athletics and the Penang Amateur Athletic Association, PBIM can also play a greater role in nurturing young runners, providing them with exposure to high-level competition and creating a pathway towards competing at national and eventually international level.
The long-term vision is therefore for PBIM to combine mass participation with sporting development — attracting runners from around the world while helping Penang and Malaysia produce the next generation of elite marathoners.
That’s a really smart approach from the state government – focusing on developing young talent is key to long-term success for any marathon.