By Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo
Introduction
Marathons generally are sports and tourism engagements that often take place in many cities around the world.
The precise events are the runnings and enormous tourism attractions among other opportunities that often take place alongside the Marathon events.
The comparative study of international marathons events have revealed six biggest marathons in the world and they are synonymous with: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City which form key basis and stronghold for the conceptualisation and emergence of Abuja international Marathon, hence, the event should not only be taken seriously but also be considered as a springboard for sport events in Abuja, first of its kind in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Abuja international Marathon ( aka Race for Unity) is scheduled to hold in Abuja on Saturday, 29th April, 2023 ;the take off point is Abuja City Gate and ends at the Eagle Square.
The Abuja international marathon race will
feature 42 km, 10 km and 5 km and it will attract cash prizes.
As a matter of fact, the Abuja international Marathon is poised to be a special event that everyone anticipates, drawing runners, the international Media and tourists to witness a world class event in Nigeria .
The aims of Abuja international Marathon are to foster Unity, increase Federal Capital Territory residents and other participants across the world well being because of the immense health benefits of running, jogging, general exercise and it will open up employment opportunities
Benefits of Abuja international Marathon
There is no gainsaying in the fact that there are numerous benefits derivable from Abuja international Marathon some of these benefits are unumerated underneath:
Physical Health benefits to the body
The International marathon event will feature running that will strengthen the heart by increasing the aerobic capacity and helping the blood pressure and high cholesterols at healthy levels. The Marathon event will further increase muscle strength and power, consequently, the body will demand for sleep since the muscle repair itself while resting.
Mental health
Long run Marathon play a manifesting and big role in mental toughness and develop a coping system to deal with running day after day, in determined situations .
Marathon gives sense of accomplishment and makes runners feel fulfilled realising that runners set a target of finishing a marathon and followed with it. The overall experience is worthwhile.
Tourism benefit
Marathon running Is a great avenue to visit a new city of the country like Abuja the hosting Federal Capital Territory. Runners and attendees will be opportuned to see a lot of the areas in the race and may even be able to score marathon runners appropriately .
It is an established fact that many of the physiological and mental health benefits; training for a Marathon constant running schedule that includes long distance running.
Also, Marathon as a sporting event promotes exports and attracts foreign direct investment in so many ways e.g it portends financial stability and awards to the host country , opening up businesses, potentials, opportunities and these will add value in the success of the programme.
There is no colouration to the fact that the Abuja international Marathon event will boost hospitality business recalling from the past sporting events, this Abuja international Marathon will add value to the hopitality business in Abuja being the first of its kind ever in the Federal Capital city of Nigeria.
The Abuja international Marathon will set the golden standard for Abuja as hosting safe in person and events which will play a crucial role in the country economic recovery and
showcasing potentials of a country.
The expediency in the job opportunities can not be underestimated, the teeming youths and adults alike will be engaged within the period and even beyond because the organizer of the event – Unicentral Resources Management limited has decided to make the event become annual exercise, hence, its sustainability is the major goal .
There will be increased exposure , increased economic impact and there will be continuous recount of experiences of visiting participants around the world, over the years Marathon have garnered runners from all over the world creating unforgettable experiences for the attendees, race runners, the host cities and adjoining communities.
In the words of the Managing Director of the Abuja international Marathon Mrs ZsuZsanna Ogunmiloyo who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Unicentral Resources Management limited “our Marathon race event is scheduled to hold on Saturday, April 29th, 2023, a busy period for marathons and road races around the world…we are all looking for runners that will raise the profile of our race from the same world althletics elite field…”
The 2023 Abuja international Marathon will be a springboard for new development in Abuja and Nigeria as a whole. The marathon will be a talent hunt because school children will participate in the international Marathon in their own category with prizes attached to it.
The Managing Director of Unicentral Resources Generation Limited Zsusanna Ogunmiloyo commended the Minister of FCT Honorable Alhaji Musa Bello, Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, for awarding the only slot for Full Marathon (42.195km) in the FCT to her firm, Unicentral.
Zussana Ogunmiloyo, who is also the Managing Director of Abuja International Marathon, said during a press conference earlier in the year that Dr. Aliyu’s approval is in line with the best global practices and standards approved by the governing bodies of athletics and marathons and road races in the world.
The world’s biggest marathon destinations like New York, Tokyo, Dubai, London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Chicago, Boston, Dubai and – nearer home Lagos, Nairobi and Durban – all have only one full marathon.
Zsusanna Ogunmiloyo said, “the logistics involved in the organization of a full marathon is huge, especially partial closure and total closure of the entire route for the duration of the race. That is why most cities have one full marathon and other races are half-marathons, 15km, 10km, and 5km”.
Ogunmiloyo assured, the Minister of FCT Hon. Mohammed Musa Bello, Minister of State FCT Dr Ramatu Tijani Aliyu, the permanent secretary Adesola Olusade, who is also, the Chairman Main Organizing Committee (MOC), and the entire management and staff of FCTA, residents, and visitors to FCT that Unicentral will organize a world-class race.
‘’Our dreams for Abuja International Marathon are very high, but we know they are achievable,“ she said.
“That is why we have headhunted some of the best brains in marathons and road races in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world for this project. They have been working on the project for the last three years and the results are feasible.
“We are the first full marathon in Nigeria to have its route measured and calibrated by AIMS and World Athletics before its first edition. Because we have experts working on the project, we have a runners’ friendly routes for all our races. We are also the first to organise an all-inclusive race. We will have for the first time in Nigeria on 29th April, 2023 a full international marathon, a 10km and a 5 km. This is first in Nigeria.‘’
The managing Director also announced that the elite field for Abuja International Marathon was capable of running sub 2 hours: 10 minutes, which will be another first in Nigeria.
“We are working all day and all night to deliver in Nigeria a world class-race that will rival the Abbott World Marathon Majors. We are appealing to Corporate Nigeria and Nigerians in general – especially citizens and residents of FCT – to support this noble project that will not only sell Abuja to the world as a tourist destination and a place to work and invest but it will also take away Abuja’s blemish as the only iconic city in Africa without a world-class international marathon,” she said.
Also, in a statement signed by Olukayode Thomas, Race Director, Abuja International Marathon, who is also the Head of Media and Publicity, said the management and staff of Unicentral are grateful to Alhaji Musa Bello the Minister of FCT and Minister of State FCT Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu who – after thoroughly examining their bids and presentations – finally okayed Unicentral’s bid and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to give the firm the sole right to organise the only full marathon in FCT for the next five years.
To attest to the sacred fact that all is now set for the maiden Abuja International Marathon, which is billed to hold on April 29th, 2023 organizers have unveiled activities that will form part of the event.
An initiative of Unicentral Resources Generation Limited and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the race, according to the organisers, will offer a memorable experience for elite runners, both Nigerians and foreigners, fun runners as well as students.
In an interview with the Chairperson Local Organizing committee (LOC) Dr Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed Kabir, who is also, the Secretary, Social Development Services of the FCTA , she explained that the 2023 Abuja international marathon is a project that Federal Capital Territory Administration( FCTA) takes very seriously in partnership with Unicentral Resources Management Limited because it will showcase the potentials of Nigeria marathoners, hence, it will give Abuja residents and Nigerians as a whole, good memory, Nigerian must be encouraged to take their participations very seriously.
Towards this end, several technical and Strategic planning meetings between Unicentral Resources Management Limited, led by Zsuzsanna Ogunmiloyo and top officials of FCTA , as well as Director of Sportsnin FCTA, Luka Istifanus, had taken place to fine-tune the programme for the last 30 days.
The race, which starts at City Gate and ends at the Car Park behind the Eagles’ Square, is in three categories, the full marathon (42.195 km), the 10 kilometres family race and the five kilometres students race.
The races will be preceded by a 10-day marathon expo at The Pavilion, beside the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The FCTA, Director of sports , Luka Istifanus revealed at the meeting that arrangements have been concluded with the Department of Tourism, FCTA to give visitors coming for the race a taste of the FCT, adding, “we will provide transportation and also train tour guides that will take visitors and residents who are interested in major tourist centres in the FCT, around the city.”
“Though we have embarked on many route tours in the past, the essence of the final four tours is to give our staff, especially ad-hoc staff and even our volunteers, most of them Youth Corpers, to have a thorough understanding of the route so that they could be of immense assistance to all runners, spectators and others,” Luka Istifanus stated.
The essence of sporting activities is to keep fit , enhance healthy living and promote brotherliness in all ramifications, hence, the forthcoming Abuja international Marathon which will feature Marathoners From Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Britain Spain, Germany etc, is a sporting project that must be supported in totality because of inherent unquantifiable benefits.
Comrade Gbenga Olowoyo fcia fipma JP is a Trade Unionist and industrial relations practitioner gbengaolowoyo3@gmail.com
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