New marathon era dawns in Boston as cities unite

A new era in marathon running dawns in Boston on April 17 with a two-year series involving the five big city marathons and culminating in New York next year.

A jackpot of one million dollars will be shared between the man and woman who gather most points from the Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York events plus the marathons at next year's Osaka World Championships.

"Our races are to our sport what Wimbledon, the US and French Opens are to tennis and the Masters, US British Open and PGA championship are to golf," New York City race director Mary Wittenberg said in a statement.

The first five runners in each race will earn points with a maximum 25 for first place. Athletes must run at least three of the six races, including one in each year, with a maximum four counting for points to qualify for the prize money.

The prize money will be awarded annually after next year based on results over the previous two years, which in 2008 will include the Beijing Olympics.

London race director David Bedford told a news conference the World Marathon Major series was the culmination of more than three years' discussion between the five race organisers.

He said the series could be expanded to include other big city mass participation races.

"We will be happy to have other people join us provided they have the right stature," he said.

"We are willing, ready and able to welcome new people."

o Although slopes at the Winter Olympic sites are covered in snow, not much of it has fallen from the skies. There has been only 20cm of snowfall in the area compared with the seasonal average of 120cm and there is no snow at all in Turin, site of the indoor events at the Games. Cue artificial snow, lots of it. It is created by putting water through a freezing device in 'cannons' which then spray the end product on to the piste. Last year's skiing World Championships held in Bormio, Italy, took place on artificial snow courses and the panorama shot on television, which organisers hope will help attract tourists, showed only snowless hills.