Over 10,000 local and international athletes are expected to participate in the maiden Kaduna International Marathon race scheduled for November 2020 in Kaduna.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Mr Jimi Lawal, who disclosed this in Kaduna on Saturday, during a meeting of marathon stakeholders in the state, said that the 10,000 expected athletes include youths, mostly from tertiary institutions and other senior citizens.
Lawal, who is also the Senior Adviser and Counselor to Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i of Kaduna state, said that it was in furtherance of the state government’s commitment to revive and develop sports that government took the decision to organise the marathon race in the state.
He said that the competition, is a strictly community affair and would required the active involvement of the stakeholders. He noted that there would be prize money for top 10 male and female local and international marathoners.
The LOC chairman said that the sale of participation forms would soon commence, adding that the cost of the forms ranges from N5,000 for adults to N3,000 for children below 18 and free for athletes at the age of 65 and above. He said that preparations had reached advanced stage to ensure a successful, hitch-free race.
Kaduna state Commissioner for Sports Development, Professor Kabir Mato, said that government intended to make the competition an annual event as obtained in Lagos, Boston, London, New York and Berlin. He stated that the race would create healthy living among the runners, promote and strengthen bonding among communities in the state.
He described the stakeholders’ meeting as fruitful, saying that discussions had expanded from the central planning committee to stakeholders within and outside the state. “Athletics Federation of Nigeria, security agencies and tertiary institutions were all part of the meeting,” the commissioner said.
Also, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Baloni, said the race “will help to improve and boost people’s immune system and reduce body bags.” She urged the sporting community in the state to show greater interest in the race.
