BENIN CITY – With barely 24 hours to the Okpekpe 10 killometers Marothon race, Edo State government and organizers of the event say they will ensure all modalities are put in place to ensure the competition gets a “Gold label badge” rating by the IAAF.
Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu said this when he hosted members of the local organizing committee, IAAF delegate and media partners.
The Deputy Governor congratulated the technical team for the efforts put made to ensure the upgrade of the race to a “silver label badge”, saying all modalities will be put in to ensure the success of this year’s edition to ensure its quick upgrade.
Shaibu emphasized that the government will also ensure more communities get international recognition by exposing them to sporting activities and exploring their cultural potentials just as OkpeKpe community to boost the economy of the state.
The Deputy Governor used the occasion to announce his participation in the event as a professional as against joining VIP in previous editions, saying he will be running to create awareness to stop violence against women and human trafficking.
On his part, the IAAF delegate, Norrie Williamson said organizers of the competition has done well over the years to earn the upgrade to a “silver label badge”, saying that a fvourable report will aid the quick upgrade to “Gold Label badge”
Also speaking, the Technical Director of the competition, Mr Brown Ebewele, said the local organizing committee has brought in innovations to ensure local athletes get the same treatment with their international counterparts.
Parts of the innovations introduced to this years race is the upgrade of live broadcast of the event to over 50 countries aside the live online feeds.
The Deputy Governor disclosed that the state government has awarded contracts for the construction of 20 mini stadia across the 18 local government areas of the state to encourage grass root participation in sports.
Shaibu who said Governor Godwin Obaseki gave the approval on Tuesday explained that the stadia will be located in schools to facilitate the catch them young programme of the government in the sports sector for the state to reclaim its number one position in the country.
He explained that the stadia will include modern facilities in all sporting activities to shift the attention away from football and develop other sports to grow the entire sporting sector.
According to him, the reconstruction of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was to upgrade it to international standard and attract more international recognition to the state in sports.
