NAN-S-11
Okpekpe
By Igbaugba Ehigimetor
Benin, April 12, 2017 (NAN) No fewer than 60 foreign marathoners from 11 countries are expected to participate in this year’s edition of the Okpekpe 10km road race in Edo, scheduled for May 13.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was disclosed by the director of organisation for the race, Mr Zackery Moudu, at a news conference in Benin on Wednesday.
While noting that the expected foreign athletes are Gold labelled, he pointed out that it was part of the strategy to get the road race registered as a Gold label event.
Moudu said this year’s edition, which is the 5th edition, has been improved upon technologically, to curb issues of cheating, as well as for fans to be able to monitor the performance of their athletes.
The director of organisation for the race, who listed the nationalities of some of the expected athletes to include Kenya, Morroco, Eritrea and Ethiopia, also said that some athletes from Europe and the Asian countries would be participating in the event.
He said that as part of plans to improve on the standards of the race, accreditation of the athletes and other participants would commence two days before the race, instead of the usual 24-hours to the event.
Moudu said a lot of awareness was being created for the 5th edition of the Okpekpe road race.
“It is going to be a week-long event and the aim is to create adequate awareness for the race.
“We, however, expect foreign athletes for the race to start arriving the country on May 11, while accreditation will take place from May 11 to May 12, instead of the usual 24-hours to the event.
“We also want to use this race to work towards achieving the Gold label for the event, and for this reason, most of the athletes expected at the race are Gold label athletes,’’ he added. (NAN)
ESI/PIO/PIO
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(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)