RP hosts in-line marathon

More foreign sports enthusiasts are expected to come to the country even long after the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) is over.

Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano said thousands of foreign athletes and sports enthusiasts, particularly from South Korea, are coming here for the 2005 Philippine International in-line marathon.

The marathon will include three categories — open division for certified in-line skaters aged 13 years and above, the masters’ division which is for amateur skaters and the beginners division.

Those joining the open and masters categories are required to complete a 20-kilometer special course while beginners will have to finish distance of five kilometers for adult and three kilometers for the kids category.

Cash prizes ranging from $200 to $1,000 will be given away to winners of the open and masters division while supplementary prizes await the winning participants in the beginners group.

Durano said the Korea Extreme Sports Association (KESA), one of the leading sports organizations in Korea, decided to hold the in-line marathon for the first time in the Philippines on Dec. 10.

"This is the first time that KESA is holding the race outside Korea, and we expect as many as 300 Korean participants to the competition," Durano said. — Mayen Jaymalin