Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Athletes of international repute will hit Nigeria to compete with no fewer than 2,000 indigenous athletes for top the prize and honours at the Onitsha City Marathon.
Onitsha Business School (OBS), the promoters of the marathon, stated this on Wednesday at a press conference in Onitsha, Anambra State.
It said that no fewer than 2000 athletes will participate in the marathon themed, “Dare Your Limit,” scheduled for September this year.
During the Press briefing, the Director of Onitsha Business School (OBS), Prof. Olusegun Sogbesan, stated that the year’s marathon, themed, “Dare Your Limit,” will feature elite athletes drawn from various countries and over 2,000 athletes from Nigeria.
Sogbesan who disclosed that the Onitsha Marathon will be held in September this year, said over 50 viewing centres across Anambra, and Delta states would be provided for people who cannot make it to Onitsha to watch the race live.
He said: “This year’s marathon will feature five international elite athletes, who are in the top 300 in the world. We are bringing them in from various countries, and up 20 other foreign athletes will participate.
“We aim at featuring over 2,000 local athletes, and we will have up to 50 viewing centres across Anambra, and Delta states, for people who cannot make it to Onitsha to watch the race live.
“Onitsha should not only be known for business but also for sports. The aim of Onitsha Business School in establishing the Onitsha City Marathon was to bring economic dimension to sports, for many local athletes.
“Everyday, we have people who throng the streets for exercise purposes, but they do it just for fitness sake. We want to bring economic dimensions to this fitness. We want young men who will earn from what they do.
“This is the initiative that we at Onitsha Business School have brought up as our social responsibility to both Onitsha our immediate environment and Nigeria. We want to put Onitsha on the map as a sports place, beyond the buying and selling that the city has become known for.”
The organisers disclosed that the prize money for victorious contestants is a total prize money of $400,000 for foreign athletes, and N10million for the local athletes.
