All Eyes On Lagos, As Access Bank City Marathon Holds Saturday

Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr Kweku Tandoh (standing) and other dignitaries at a media conference held at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island on Thursday. 

Lagos, Nigeria, one of the emerging mega cities of the world,  will be the centre of attraction on Saturday as it plays host to a world acclaimed sporting event, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

In its third edition, the long race tournament has accorded to itself a rare honour never known of its kind. It has become a bronze label status event of the IAAF within two years of existence, and prides itself a tournament that will feature no fewer than 84 elite athletes from 28 countries on Saturday when the event gets underway.

Since few months ago, a great deal of work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure that everything runs smoothly. The organisers have been working round the clock to ensure that the competition, which will serve as a qualifying tournament for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, is a memorable one.

The General Manager of the event, Mr Yusuf Alli said all is set as everything has been put in place for a hitch free tournament that will see in attendance the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the Minister of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, as well as dignitaries from Nigeria and abroad.

“We are starting by 6:30am on Saturday at the National Stadium in Surulere,  and by our calculation we are aiming to clock under two hours 10 minutes when the winner is expected to brace the tape at the finishing point at the Eko Atlantic City on Lagos Island, ” he said.

” Lagos is the second country in the whole world to get the bronze label in just two years. When we came on board, we gave ourselves five years to achieve gold label and we are gradually getting there.

“Over 8,000 registration at the office about three days ago. Even this morning (Thursday), huge forms are still pending for registration, the sponsors appealed that we should accommodate them, but I want to assure that we will do our best.

“There is great improvement in terms of security, attitude of the security agencies, quality and quantity of security provided for the marathon. The governor himself is directly involved in security, ” Alli said.

The enthusiasm has been so high among Nigerians who are so excited in taking part in the race, not to win the prize but to be counted among the crowd. Though the competition is a 42km race, the organisers had planned another race of 10Km that will go simultaneously with the IAAF sanctioned marathon. This is strictly for Nigerians and a star prize of GAC car is for grabs by the winner, while the sum of N2.5 million will be shared by second placed winner to the fifth positions.

First Nigerian to cross the tape at the finishing point will take home the sum N3m in the 42km race, while the star prize of $50,000 has been placed on the table for winner of the main event. Though this seems to be the birthright of the North African runners since the debut edition, Nigerians are already talking tough vowing that they will take the fight to the foreigners this year.

Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr Kweku Tandoh said the state government is using the competition to showcase the rich cultural and tourist heritages of Lagos to the world, hence the support giving to the event.

“Out of Africa, out of Nigeria, the best can happen. The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is here to stay, ” said Mr. Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Personal Banking.

President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Shehu Gusau has a tall ambition concerning the future of the competition as he said:”Just after two editions, Access Bank Lagos City Marathon is heading to a gold IAAF label.”