ACCESS BANK TAKES ANOTHER GIANT STEP AS 2021 MARATHON OPENS FOR REGISTRATION
Daily Global News reports that Access Bank has announced two major changes in the 2021 edition of the Lagos City Marathon which is been organised yearly.
Daily Global News was informed that the organizers of the Silver Label race, on Friday through Bukola Olopade, made an announcement, that the race consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Company has made it known that 10,000 runners only with participate in the marathon from across the world.
However the 10km race was suspended by the organizers, which has always been the cores puller since it was introduced into the Lagos City Marathon.
Olopade said, “the reduction in the number of participants was in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The drastic reduction in the number of runners was in adherence to the safety of COVID-19 protocols, he said.
“The measure is put in place by the World Athletics, Presidential Task Force, Sports Ministry, and other relevant bodies to checkmate the further spread of COVID-19 in the country, he said.
Olopade said “We’ve stepped back to take a breather and ensure that all strategies are put in place to have a race that would fit the protocols put together by the World Athletics, PTF, Ministry of Youth and Sports.
“At the end of the day, we do not put brands and even the state in trouble, and I can say now we have mapped out our strategies and ready to deliver a safe race, he said.
“Outside the reduction of runners to 10,000, the 10km race which has always been the crowd-puller since it was introduced into the Lagos Marathon has also been suspended from the 2021 race, he said.
“We are only focusing on our flagship race which is the 42km that already has a Silver Label from the World Athletics; with what we are putting in place for 2021, we hope we can be upgraded to the Gold Label, he said.
“Beyond the usual fanfare, the goal for 2021 is to stage a world-class event that is equally safe for all.” He said.
The organizers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, has officially commence with the flagging off of registration activities on Thursday for the 2021 Marathon by top officials of Lagos State Sports Commission.
According to Olopade, the first two entry forms for the 2021 Lagos City Marathon, was given in honour to the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku, and the Director-General, Oluwatoyin Gafaar, for the 2021 race.
Aiyepeku, said that Lagos State was making a big statement to stage the 2021 race, also praised the ingenuity of the organizers for mapping out modalities for a safe race come 2021 Lagos City Marathon.
