Singapore: Marathon showdown

By Terrence Voon

A BATTLE of the marathons is shaping up in Singapore at the end of the year.

This, after the Singapore Athletic Association (SAA) confirmed that it is planning to stage a race on Dec 5 - the same date which had been earmarked for the inaugural Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore.

Both the SAA and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) - who are behind the new Marathon Singapore - have met separately with the Land Transport Authority and the Traffic Police to obtain permission for their events.

It is understood that only one race will get the green light from the authorities, owing to the excessive road closures caused by having two marathons on the same day.

The clash of dates is the latest chapter in the ongoing feud between the SSC and SAA, who have been at odds since the athletics body had its public funding frozen since last April.

The two parties had jointly organised the Singapore Marathon since 2002, but that partnership was dissolved after last year's 42km race.