Audiences around the world will be able to see live coverage of the Flora London Marathon on Sunday, 13 April (08:00 – 11:00 GMT), following licensing agreements by BBC Worldwide into 154 countries around the globe.

BBC Worldwide adds the Marathon coverage to its growing portfolio of sporting events including the Martell Grand National (5 April), the Oxford / Cambridge University Boat Race (6 April) and the Powergen Rugby League Challenge Cup Final (26 April).

Richard Hornsby-Smith, BBC Worldwide’s Sport Sales Manager, commented on the deal with the London Marathon: ‘The level of interest in the year’s Flora London Marathon is phenomenal. Live pictures of the race will be beamed across Europe and Africa as well as some parts of Asia. Once again, a fantastic field has been assembled for this year’s race which illustrates that the London Marathon is truly the world’s leading marathon.’

Flora London Marathon Race Director David Bedford has assembled a world-class field including the Olympic and World Champion, Gezahegne Abera (Ethiopia) and the second-fastest man in history, Paul Tergat (Kenya). Following the recent withdrawal of world record holder Khalid Khannouchi through illness, the race also provides an opportunity for past winners like Abdelkader El Mouaziz (Morocco) and Antonio Pinto (Portugal) to win what is now undoubtedly the world’s top road race.

The Women’s race will be equally competitive with everyone trying to stop the world’s top female distance runner, Britain’s Paula Radcliffe. Radcliffe followed up her success in last year’s race with victory in Chicago, but the world record holder faces a real challenge from the likes of Catherine Ndereba (Kenya), the second fastest woman in the world and former winner, Derartu Tulu (Kenya).

Those broadcasters interested in the rights to the London Marathon or any of these events should contact:

Richard Hornsby-Smith
Sport Sales Manager, BBC Worldwide
Tel: (44) 20 8433 2476 Fax : (44) 20 8433 2897
e-mail: richard.hornsby-smith@bbc.co.uk