The Marg Chennai Marathon, being organised by Tamil Maiyam in the city on Sunday, will be a star-studded event, with celebrities from various fields, including politics and corporate and entertainment world, taking part in the run.
The marathon is in aid of GiveLife Charity, which takes care of the education of 8,000 underprivileged children. The seven-km ‘I Love Chennai' city run will have drummer Sivamani performing en route.
The run is open and free to all but participants must register themselves if they need a Bib number and completion certificate. Registrations are on at the Lady Willingdon College of Education.
On Saturday, the registrations will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Marathon T-shirts are available at the college. Registrations can also be done online at www.chennaimarathon.in.
A team from the British Deputy High Commission will participate in the marathon. In a release, Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner, Southern India, said: “We hope that our participation will in some small way express solidarity with what GiveLife is trying to do in Chennai.”
The team from the High Commission would include the Deputy High Commissioner, the Head of the Visa Department, staff from the Visa Department, Consular Department, messengers, cleaners and drivers.
Marg Group is the presenting sponsor of the marathon. ‘Best Participating Corporate Award' will be given to corporate companies based on their participation count and other criteria.
Around 8,000 registered participants are expected to take part in the 21-km half-marathon. The starting and finishing points of half-marathon and ‘I Love Chennai' run would be Anna Square and they would begin at 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. respectively.
Traffic arrangements
In view of the ‘Give Life Chennai International Half Marathon 2010' to be held on Sunday morning, the traffic police have announced certain modifications in the movement of vehicular traffic from Anna Square to Annai Velankanni Church, Besant Nagar. A release said the corridor of Kamarajar Salai, Santhome High Road, Greenways Road, Besant Avenue Road upto Annai Velankanni Church, Besant Nagar, would be partially closed for traffic. Vehicular originating from Adyar and proceeding towards north Chennai will be diverted through Thiru Vi Ka Bridge, Greenways Road junction, R.K. Mutt Road, Luz Junction, Royapettah High Road, G.P. Road, Anna Salai, Dams Road, Harris Road, Pantheon Road roundabout, PCO Road and Dr. Nair Bridge and take a right turn to reach Parrys Corner.
In the return direction, vehicles coming from RBI subway would be diverted through North Fort Station Road, EVR Periyar Salai, Gandhi Irwin Road, Langs Garden roundabout, Langs Garden Road, Blackers Road, Anna Salai, Patullous Road, Whites Road, Royapettah High Road, Luz junction, Mandaveli, R.A. Puram 2nd Main Road, Chamiers Road, Gandhi Mandapam Road and Sardar Patel Road to reach Adyar. Traffic from Lattice Bridge Road junction to South Canal Bank road junction would be one way.
The traffic changes would be in operation till about 10 a.m., the release said.
