Marathon Bahamas Wins Tourism Impact Award

NASSAU, Bahamas (December 1, 2015) –Marathon Bahamas has won a Tourism Impact Award for its contribution to the sports tourism world, beating out Battle 4 Atlantis and Bahamas Speed Week to name a few.

The National Sports Awards were held recently at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. On Monday, Youth, Sports & Culture Minister Dr. Daniel Johnson presented Sunshine Insurance with the award at a news conference at the company’s Shirley Street headquarters.

Sunshine Insurance is the lead organizer and sponsor of the annual endurance event, which made its debut seven years ago in January 2010.

Since then, Marathon Bahamas has been a mainstay on the sports tourism calendar, attracting thousands of visitors to The Bahamas for its Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend (SIRW) and generating millions of dollars for the economy.

Runner’s World UK – an internationally respected and leading authority on endurance running – recently named Marathon Bahamas one of the 50 best marathons in the world outside of the UK.

Adrian Francis, a sports consultant in the Ministry of Sports noted that Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, Battle 4 Atlantis and Bahamas Speed Week were among the organizations considered.

“However, considering the impact you have on the economy and on the young persons in the country, we thought it necessary to single you out as the king,” he said.

Sunshine Insurance Vice President of Operations, Shelly Wilson, said her company is “thrilled” to receive the recognition from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

“Sunshine Insurance has been in this initiative since 2010 and although we don’t do it for any gratification beyond helping our fellow citizens, we are very grateful to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for recognizing our efforts and for their ongoing partnership with the Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend, which comprises the Susan G Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure® and Marathon Bahamas,” she said.

“During the past seven years, the Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend has been able to raise significant funds that remain in The Bahamas to help deserving Bahamians in their battle with cancer. We have been recognized internationally by Runner’s World magazine for our performance as an outstanding race destination. However, that reward does not compare to being recognized by your own. So, we’re very grateful for the minister’s presence today as well as Workforce Bahamas in looking at our efforts recognizing our efforts and making fellow Bahamians understand that we’re doing this for you.”

Minister Johnson said his ministry wanted to recognize Sunshine Insurance for its positive impact on the country.

“You’re bringing people to our shores; you’re bringing awareness to something that we can conquer, which is breast cancer, but you’re also allowing people to participate in what they love . . . and that’s why we recognize you today,” said Dr. Johnson.

“We launched our sports in paradise brand and Marathon Bahamas has become a great feature in that. It begins the year and it starts out very early in our calendar of events and we now see a myriad of international events that have signed on. We congratulate you for the work that you continue to do. It is noble work and it is a great cause and a great event. I used to go around telling people It’s Better in The Bahamas and one of my very clever friends said, ‘what’s better in The Bahamas?’ So now we can say marathons is better in The Bahamas.”

The 7th annual Marathon Bahamas will take place on January 17, 2016.

To register, visit www.marathonbahamas.com.