ONITSHA MARATHON TO HOST OVER 2,000 ATHLETES

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

Over 2,000 athletes are expected in this year’s marathon scheduled for Onitsha, Anambra State.

Speaking with Sports Journalists in Onitsha, the Director of Onitsha Business School (OBS), Professor Olusegun Sogbesan, said the contest, which would take place in September 2023 would feature “five international elite athletes, who are in the top 300 in the world.”

According to Professor Sogbesan, the athletes will be coming from various countries, with 20 other foreign athletes participating.

He said there would be up to 50 viewing centres across Anambra, and Delta States, for people who would not make it to Onitsha to watch the race live.

Professor Sogbesan said the aim of Onitsha Business School in establishing the Onitsha City Marathon was to bring economic dimension to sports, for many local athletes.

He noted that there were people who throng the streets for exercise purposes, but they do it just for fitness sake but the Onitsha City Marathon aims at bringing economic dimensions to what they do.

The organisers disclosed that the prize money for victorious contestants is a total prize money of $400,000 for foreign athletes, and N10million for the local athletes.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU