CHANDIGARH - Chandigarh is all set to host its first ever marathon in February and the administration here is projecting it as a big tourism-oriented sports event.

Plans to host the Chandigarh Marathon-2010 were finalised in a meeting held here Monday under the chairmanship of home secretary Ram Niwas.

The marathon, which covers 42.195 kilometres, will cover the neighbouring towns of Mohali and Panchkula.

This mega event will put Chandigarh on the international map as a tourist destination and certainly give boost to the tourism sector. Attractive prizes worth more than Rs.10 lakh (Rs.1 million) would be given to the participants, Niwas told reporters here.

He added: We have plans to invite celebrities like Kapil Dev, Yuvraj Singh, Milkha Singh, Jeev Milkha Singh, Kirron Kher, Gul Panag and other renowned personalities who are associated with Chandigarh to add more colour to this event.

To decide the final modalities, a core committee of sports and tourism department has been constituted. The administration would also try to rope in various sponsors to collect enough funds in order to organise this marathon on a large scale.

There would be multi-dimensional activities, which may include cultural activities along the route so that the common public can also become part of this marathon, Niwas said.

The administration will invite various professional bands, school bands and artists of the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) to perform on the route.

We would also involve professionals from different fields, NGOs, fitness experts, nutritionists, dieticians and athletic federations in a coordinated manner to make the Chandigarh Marathon a huge success, Niwas said.