IPOH, April 3 — The Ipoh International Run (IIR) is being held again after it was last organised in the city seven years ago, to coincide with Visit Perak Year (VPY) 2024.
Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said this edition of the IIR scheduled to take place on July 28 is expected to attract 5,000 participants, with former national high jumper Loo Kum Zee and former Malaysian middle-distance running star Samson Vallabouy appointed as ambassadors.
“So far, a total of 1,611 participants for various categories have registered to participate in the run, including 35 entries from China, Singapore, Brunei and the Netherlands.
“We are targeting a total of 5,000 participants for the run which involves 15 categories over three distances, namely 21 km, 10 km and 5 km,” he said in a press conference here, yesterday.
He said this after officiating the pre-launch of IIR 2024 at the Ipoh City Council Building (MBI) which was also attended by Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh chief whip Datuk Mazlan Abd Rahman.
Rumaizi said among the categories on offer was the 21-km Half Marathon Open for male and female runners aged 17 and above, including veterans 40 and above.
Rumaizi also said he is proud that the Half Marathon would once again add colour to the calendar for international sporting events in Ipoh held in conjunction with VPY 2024.
“The staging of IIR 2024 is very much in line with VPY 2024, because Perak is currently experiencing rapid transformation in industrial development and we are aiming for one million foreign tourists to visit the state.
Meanwhile, he said cash prizes amounting to RM14,800 will be offered, with registrations possible through the Howei, Raceroster and Checkpoint Spot websites.
— Bernama
