'FOR RUNNERS, BY RUNNERS'

New S'pore Marathon organiser wants it to be like a festival, a stage for locals to shine

- Kimberly Kwek

The Singapore Marathon will have a new organiser for the first time since 2016, with Sport Singapore (SportSG) announcing in a statement on Dec 11 that SG Marathon Pte Ltd will replace the Ironman Group.

The Ironman Group was appointed to run the event on a 10-year contract in 2016.

Expressing appreciation towards Ironman, a SportSG spokesperson said: “SportSG is committed to ensuring that Singapore’s only national marathon remains a world-class running event for local and international participants.

“We look forward to partnering with SG Marathon Pte Ltd to deliver a successful marathon event in the coming years.”

SG Marathon - a joint venture between sport management companies Betterment Sports and Score Sports - has been appointed as the official event promoter on a multiyear contract.

The venture is led by co-chief executives Leon Lai and Patricia Tan, who head Betterment Sports and Score Sports respectively.

Betterment Sports specialises in consulting, athlete management and intellectual property creation, while Score Sports started in Malaysia in 2012 as a mass participation sports and fitness events organiser, with a focus on running events.

Its roster of events includes the Score Run in Malaysia, which has grown from 3,674 participants in its first edition in 2014 to a record 33,000 in 2024. It opened a Singapore office in early 2025.