Enugu, the Coal City, will be grounded tomorrow, Saturday, for the kick-off of the second edition of Enugu City International Marathon. To allow free access to athletes from within and outside Nigeria to have a hitch-free race, all vehicular traffic has been stopped in the metropolis where racing routes will take place.
As a result, between the hours of 6:00 am. and 12.30 pm, security men will allow any vehicle to ply the major roads in the metropolis as the 10km/42 kilometres race will take the athletes around the major avenues.
The race, sponsored by Nilayo Sports Management, Pinnacle Oil, Power Oil, Enugu Air, Aquafina, among others, will attract athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as local athletes.
Speaking at the World Press briefing ahead of the Marathon on Friday, Enugu State Commissioner for Sports, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, said that the forthcoming edition will surpass the previous edition. Ekweremadu said that apart from participating in the race, the Marathon will showcase Enugu to the world as a tourist centre.
He said that the Saturday edition will be a marked improvement on the past edition, adding that 3000 volunteers will be on the ground to make the Marathon a huge success. “We have taken from the first edition, and we shall improve on this one. We are here to build an institution. Enugu is a destination for major sports events,” he said, pointing out that in no distant time, Enugu will host the National Sports Festival.
Speaking at the occasion, representative of the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Bitrus Giwa, assured that there would be adequate security before and during the Marathon, adding that the police and other security agencies will work in synergy to ensure a hitch-free race.
Representative of the Commissioner for Transport, Obi Ozor, Dr. Okolo, explained that the marathon, which will kick off from the Shoprite/GTC area at Abakiliki Road, will eventually culminate in Okpara Square, Independence Layout, Enugu. Athlete that the wins the 1st prize in the Marathon will smile home with 50,000 US Dollars.
