LAHORE, Jan 3: The last date to submit entries for the Lahore Marathon 2006 is set as Jan 28, a day before the event will be held. The participants can register their names at any branch of the sponsoring bank and a shoe’s company outlet.

This was stated by Chief Ministers’s Task Force chairman Ghous Akbar at a press conference here on Tuesday.

More than 26,000 athletes, including 45 foreigners and 20 women, will take part in the second Marathon.

Mr Ghous said the Marathon would attract people of all walks of society and it would also help generate maximum funds for President’s Relief Fund for earthquake victims.

The elite event is part of an annual package of six international Marathons being sponsored by a bank across Asia, Africa and Middle East.

A sponsor also presented a cheque of Rs15 million to

Mr Ghous.

In Lahore Marathon, the athletes will take part in three category races, including 42-km, 10-km and 5-km.

The participants above the age of 18 are eligible to take part in the 42-km category, 16 years are allowed for the 10-km category while the athletes above the age of 11 will participate in the 5-km race.

Every participant will fill in a form to get a receipt then the holder will get a bib (chest number) at the Qadhafi Stadium on Jan 28 between 10am and 6pm.

District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood said Lahore had been organizing a number of international events and after a successful Marathon the people of the city would send a message across the globe that they were also peace loving people.

SSP Amir Zulfiqar said there was no threat from religious groups as police had made a comprehensive plan for the event.