4th February, 2016
Taiwo Adelu
All is now set as Lagos State Government set to host over 20,000 local and international marathoners in the maiden Access Bank Lagos City Marathon race scheduled for Saturday.
The race, which will be flagged off at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos (old Lagos) will be terminate, after the marathoners have run through dedicated routes, at the Eko Atlantic City on Victoria Island (new Lagos).
According to the State’s Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, all logistics have been put in place and Lagos is ready to host the event on Saturday.
He confirmed that several renowned marathoners from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and others are already in town for the event, while local and other athletes are fully prepared to participate in the one day event.
Athletes such as Peter Kiplagat, who won the 2015 Geneva Marathon, Morocco’s Khalid Lablea and a host of others have landed in Lagos ahead of the IAAF approved marathon race.
He said, Lagos State Government has put in place water-tight security measures to protect athletes and other participants in the international event, adding that a team of motorized and motorbike escorts have been provided to monitor the event throughout the duration of the race.
“Similarly we have put in place a team of fully trained and well equipped medical team that will accompany all the participants from the kick-off of the race to the end,” Ayorinde said on Thursday.
A combined team of traffic managers will also be on ground to control traffic along the designated routes, while alternate routes have also been provided for motorists during the 7 hours event.
While regretting any inconvenience the traffic restriction would cause during the period, the Commissioner said Lagosians are reminded that the gains inherent in hosting the event will further boost the economy of the State as well as promote Lagos as a destination worthy of visit by tourists, sportsmen and investors.
“The Lagos State Government is therefore appealing to Lagosians to come out en masse and cheer these athletes as well as encourage them during the course of the race,” he said.
About N92 million is also up for grabs for marathoners who run the distance of 42.195 kilometres.