The leader of Newport City Council has said the Newport Marathon is a great opportunity to attract more investment to the city.

On Sunday, April 29 the inaugural ABP Newport Wales Marathon and 10K will welcome around 10,000 runners to the city with runners from as far afield as Canada, Algeria and Japan due to attend.

According to the council, the event will attract £1.1 million into the local economy and raise up to £1 million for good causes.

The event is being steered by Run 4 Wales, the team behind events like the Cardiff Half Marathon and Velothon Wales.

Organisers have confirmed the marathon will take place in Newport for at least three years and Run 4 Wales have said they expect next year’s event to be televised.

Councillor Debbie Wilcox, Leader of Newport City Council, said: “As you would expect from a Welsh city, we are passionate about sport and we are very excited to be hosting the ABP Newport Wales Marathon.

“By expanding our events programme we hope to raise the profile of the city and attract more visitors and investment. I look forward to welcoming top runners to Newport and know that many of our local athletes will also relish the opportunity to pound the streets of their home city.

“It is very exciting to see the ABP Newport Wales Marathon taking in so many elements of our diverse city. We’re confident that we will offer runners a great experience on the day.

“We will also be working closely with the residents and organisations along the route to ensure they are fully informed and that any disruption with be minimised as far as possible. This is a great opportunity for the city and I urge both the public and businesses to get involved.”

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates AM, added: “This is an excellent opportunity for us to establish a much-awaited national Marathon for Wales, I’m delighted that the Welsh Government will be supporting the first ABP Newport Wales Marathon.

“We look forward to working with partners to develop the event and to once again showcase our abilities to host major sporting events in Wales. The ABP Newport Wales Marathon will also provide a high-profile opportunity for locals and visitors to experience Newport’s newly-developed city centre and will be a boost to the local economy.”