
ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Oct. 10, 2014 — Abbott and the World Marathon Majors announced a new partnership with Abbott becoming the race series' first-ever title sponsor. The series – comprising six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world: Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW BERLIN, Bank of America Chicago and TCS New York City Marathon – will be renamed the Abbott World Marathon Majors starting in 2015.
Through the new global partnership, Abbott aims to create opportunities for the company to demonstrate and bring to life its core mission of helping people unlock all that life has to offer through the power of health. This mission will be expressed through the company's new brand line – "Life. To the Fullest." – as part of communications and branding efforts around each of the races.
"As the global leader in elite and mass participation marathons, the World Marathon Majors shows how people – wherever they're from in the world – are capable of doing amazing things when they're at their healthiest," said Carey Pinkowski, Bank of America Chicago Marathon executive race director. "As a company that helps people around the globe achieve their goals through better health, Abbott is a natural fit as the first ever title sponsor of the World Marathon Majors."
"BMW BERLIN-MARATHON runners are unified in the sacrifices they've made just to get to the start line and their commitment to being the best they can be through good health," said BMW BERLIN-MARATHON race director, Mark Milde. "So we're excited to welcome Abbott, a company whose mission is to help people achieve their goals through better health, to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON in 2015 as the title sponsor of the World Marathon Majors."
Abbott's race activation will include pre-race expo presence; Abbott employee engagement such as dedicated on-course cheer zones; and event and on-course signage.
ABOUT THE WORLD MARATHON MAJORS
Established in 2006, World Marathon Majors (WMM) is a race series comprised of the Tokyo, Boston, Virgin Money London, BMW BERLIN, Bank of America Chicago, and TCS New York City Marathons. In the years in which they are run, WMM also includes the IAAF World Championships and Olympic marathons. At the conclusion of each two-year cycle, WMM offers a $1 million prize purse to be divided equally between the top male and female marathoners in the world. The inaugural 2006-2007 Series was launched at the 110th Boston Marathon on April 17, 2006, and concluded at the New York City Marathon on November 4, 2007. The 2013-2014 series, the WMM's eighth two-year series, began with the Tokyo Marathon on February 24, 2013 and will conclude at the TCS New York City Marathon on November 2, 2014.