The inaugural Cochin International Half Marathon will be held here on December 29 with 20 foreign athletes and India's top distance runners participating.
The online registrations for the Half Marathon will open on November 17 and physical registrations can be done from November 20, Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany said.
"The aim is to give a brand to Kochi," he said.
'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh, 'Payyoli Express' P T Usha and Malayalam superstar Mohanlal are the brand ambassadors. The registrations would close on December 22.
Speaking on the occasion, Milkha Singh said other states should emulate Kerala, which had produced world class athletes like P T Usha, Shiny Wilson, M D Valsamma who had done the country proud in the Asian and Commonwealth meets.
Kerala was number one in the field of sports, he said.
Since the making of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' in which Farhan Akthar had portrayed him on screen, Milkha, who finished fourth in the 400 metres final at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, said he was getting 400 letters a day.
"I receive at least 400 letters a day. Every function organisers wants to invite me. But I am aged 85, my eyesight is poor. But still I have come as Kerala has given so much in to the field of sports," he said.
