BBC Worldwide has licensed this year's Flora London Marathon to a record number of markets. The event, which takes place on Sunday 23 April and this year celebrates its 26th Anniversary, will be broadcast in 163 countries.

 

Race Director, David Bedford, has assembled 32,000 runners for this year's event, all attempting to pound its gruelling 26.2 mile course through the streets of London.

 

Alongside celebrities and enthusiastic competitors will be an outstanding field of world-record-holding international athletes.

 

In the Men's race, Kenya's Martin Lel will look to defend his title against such challengers as Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie, the four-time world champion over 10,000m and twice an Olympic champion, Kenya's 2004 London winner Evans Rutto, the double world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco, the Olympic champion Stefano Baldini of Italy, and the former world record holder Khalid Khannouchi of USA.

 

The Women's race promises to be just as competitive, with runners keen to exploit the absence of Paula Radcliffe, the world record holder, world champion, and London Marathon winner in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

 

Keen to take the crown will be competitors including the Chicago Marathon champion Deena Kastor, 2004 London champion Margaret Okayo and Romania's world bronze medallist Constantina Tomescu-Dita.

 

BBC Worldwide's Sport Sales Manager, Richard Hornsby-Smith, commented: "This year's Flora London Marathon, the first since London won her bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games, promises once again to be one of the sporting highlights of the year. BBC Worldwide's record number of international sales confirms the Flora London Marathon's status as the leading event of its kind in the world."

 

Other major sports events distributed by BBC Worldwide include The Grand National, Royal Ascot, The University Boat Race, the Norwich Union London Grand Prix Athletics, and the VISA Paralympic World Cup.

 

BBC WORLDWIDE