From Molly Kilete, Abuja
All is now set for the 4th edition of the Chief of Defence Staff, Armed Forces, and other Security Agencies Half Marathon, scheduled to hold in Abuja, on December 9.
The event which will take place at the Aguiyi Ironsi, cantonment will have over 250 athletes and about 70 veterans participating in two events, namely 21.1km male and female and 5 kilometer for veteran’s road races.
At a media briefing on the upcoming event, the Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters, AVM Abidemi Marquis, called on participants to compete fairly and warned them against doping and other forms of cheating during the competition.
He said the Marathon would feature participants from the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies who would compete for the coveted car prize.
Marquis, while noting that the first, second and third editions of the CDS half marathon competition held in the last eight years, said that the 4th edition could not hold until 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and increased engagement of the military in internal security operations.
He said the competition which is aimed at creating an avenue for members of the armed forces and security agencies and their personnel to engage in competitive sporting activities, would improve their skills, discover talent for the nation and interact with one another to sustain the working relationship.
According to him, “this year’s championship, we will be featuring two events, 21.1km male and female and 5 kilometer for veteran’s road races.
“So there will be individual and group competitions going on at the same time.
According to our plans, we should be done with road marking by Thursday,” he said.
While noting that the DHQ was aware of the inconveniences that the sporting activities would cause the road users especially along the Kubwa axis, urged road users to cooperate during the marking on Thursday and the tournament on Saturday.
“So we are using this opportunity to invite sport loving residents of Abuja and its environs to come out and be part of this year’s event.
“Every plan is already in place to ensure that this competition is hitch free.
“We have medical facilities for any unforeseen medical eventualities and we are fully prepared to ensure that this marathon is successfully conducted.
“So we hope that all our marathoners are fully prepared as we are fully prepared now for the Star Prize of this competition.
“The Star prizes are brand new cars, one for the male and one for the female top marathoners.
“We also have cash prizes for 2nd, 3rd and we also have a certificate of participation to be given to the group competitors and individual competitors”.