REIGNING OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLISTS SIGN UP FOR BUPA GREAT EDINBURGH CROSS COUNTRY

Reigning Olympic gold medallists Asbel Kiprop and Brimin Kipruto have confirmed they will compete at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country in January.

The top notch Kenyans, who claimed the 1500 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase titles at the 2008 Beijing Games, will contest the international four kilometre race in Holyrood Park on January 8. The pair will join a global field which already includes fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge, a former World 5000m champion, who was runner-up over the distance at the last Olympics in the Chinese capital. "We're delighted that we have already attracted three of the world's greatest distance runners and it supports our decision in reducing the men's international race distance from 9km to 4km." said Peter Riley, the meeting's elite event co-ordinator. "The distance was dropped from the world cross country championships a couple of years ago, although it was always popular amongst the athletes. "Now our initiative has seen enquiries from several other top stars keen to take part and negotiations with their managers are already in the pipeline." Riley added: "Kiprop, although a metric mile specialist, is more than happy to step up in distance and let's remember, he was the 2007 World Junior Cross Country Champion. "Kipruto hasn't paid any serious attention to cross country in the past but with his steeplechase background, will be extremely suited to a course which will suit his style of running. "Kipchoge, the first to be recruited for the race, will be returning to the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country for the fifth occasion and has already expressed his delight at the new distance." The meeting, which will be broadcast live on BBC Television and is part of the IAAF World Cross Permit series, will still feature the traditional women's international 6km race. For the first time, the schedule will include a Men's International Team Challenge, featuring Great Britain & Northern Ireland senior, under 23 and under 20 sides against the USA and a Europe Select Team over 8km. ends Editors Notes Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country 2011 - New Format The Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country has changed its title for 2011 and was formerly known as the Bupa Great Edinburgh International Cross Country. The Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country has traditionally included three international elite races which consisted of a shorter 4km course for men, largely dominated by British athletes, a 6km course for the world's best female elite athletes and a 9km course contested by teh world's best elite male athletes. The new format for the 2011 Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country will consist of a short 4km course with the best male athletes in the world competing, an unchanged format for teh 6km event contested by the world's best female athletes and the International Team Challenge which will see Great Britain & Northern Ireland Senior Men and Great Britain & Northern Ireland U23 and U20 Men take on the United States and a European Select team over 8km. Each country competing in the International Team Challenge will consist of nine athletes per team and the first six athletes to complete the course will receive a score based on their position. The team with the lowest overall score wins. Nova International The Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country Run and Bupa Great Winter Run is brought to you by a partnership between the City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland and event organisers Nova International and is sponsored by Bupa. Nova International, headed by Olympic Medallist Brendan Foster, is one of the UK's leading event management and sports marketing agencies. The company's current brand portfolio includes some of the biggest running events in the world, all based on the Bupa Great North Run, the world's biggest half marathon with over 54,000 entries. Nova International was establised in 1988 and has a strong sporting pedigree. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Nova has established itself as a market leader in the world of sports marketing and event management. For more information please visit www.greatrun.org Bupa Bupa's purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives. A leading international healthcare provider, we offer personal and company health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching and home healthcare. With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare. We are committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing. Employing over 50,000 people, Bupa has operations around the world, pricipally in the UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, China and across Latin America. For more information, visit www.bupa.com City of Edinburgh Council This event is part of the City of Edinburgh Council's Avtivcity programme, which promotes sport and physical activity events throughout the city. The Bupa Great Winter Run is a great example of an event which helps the people of Edinburgh to get active! Edinburgh's sporting calendar for 2011 is shaping up to be truly exhilarating. The Touch Rugby World Cup in June, the Nocture City Centre Cycle Race in July and the Golden Oldies World Hockey and the World Karate Championships in September are just a taster of what is on offer. For more information visit www.eventsedinburgh.org.uk EventScotland EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world's leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events, EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland's international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org

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