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- World Athletics Rep in Yenagoa for 10km International Race
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday, said the state was prepared to host the 10km international road race scheduled for this weekend.
The race, which commences from the Opolo roundabout and terminates at the Peace Park in the state capital, Yenagoa, will feature no fewer than 2,000 marathoners from within and outside Africa.
A team led by Mr. Nadeem Khan from World Athletics, the global body responsible for monitoring and regulating international athletics competitions, is already in Bayelsa for the event.
At a world press conference held at the Golden Tulip Resort, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa governor said his administration was committed to projecting the state as a centre for sporting activities, youth development, and promotion of healthy living.
Represented by the Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Daniel Igali, he said the event would bring together national and international athletes, stimulate the local economy, and set the tone for bigger international competitions as the state prepares to host the 2028 National Sports Festival.
Describing Saturday’s event as historic, Senator Diri enjoined all to participate in the competition as it was not just about the event but also about the community and the future of sports in the state.
He said: “The Bayelsa State government under the leadership of Senator Douye Diri is positioning sports and youth development as well as promoting healthy living through hosting sporting events.
”We are inviting residents, visitors, and the media to be part of this historic moment. The race is not just about the competition, but it is also about community, healthy living, and the future of sports in Bayelsa.”
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, who noted that the Prosperity Government prioritised sports development as one of its cardinal policies for youth development, stressed that the vision informed the government’s huge investment in the sub-sector.
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First Vice President, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Chief Solomon Ogba, commended the state government for hosting the international event, describing it as historic.
Chief Ogba also hailed the Prosperity Government for its passion to encourage young people through sports and other forms of empowerment, and urged everybody to be part of the Olympic movement.
World Athletics representative and President, International Association of Ultrarunners, Nadeem Khan, commended Mrs. Yetunde Olopade, Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, organisers of the race, for striving to have elite athletes in international events.
Khan disclosed that the winner will receive 5000 dollars, second place 3000 dollars, and third place gets 2000 dollars.
He added that fourth and fifth-place runners will get 1000 and 500 dollars, respectively.
Speaking also, Mrs. Olopade said the groundbreaking event would launch Bayelsa into the global stage of athletes.
She said the race was structured into three categories to ensure fairness and competitiveness, adding that technical and medical teams have been strategically positioned along the routes to ensure the safety of participants.
