The Lagos City Marathon has been upgraded to a silver label status barely four years after inception. The time frame for the upgrade is the shortest in the history of international marathon according to the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) . The 5th edition will hold on February 8, 2020.
The feat, according to Bukola Olopade, who is the boss of Nilayo Event Management Limited, the consultant to the annual event, is the first of its kind in the world.
Olopade, said IAAF acknowledged the high standard of the marathon which could now be regarded as the top ranked in Africa.
He hinted that Access Bank officials made the upgrade possible following the financial institution’s faultless presentation of a paper at an IAAF event in China where they were able to reveal how they held the first edition with barely six weeks of preparations.
Access Bank’s Head of Media, Amaechi Okobi, disclosed that the new status has reignite the bank’s commitment to the event and he promised l be witnessing something that will be absolutely amazing.
“It gives us excessive pride to be part of what has been one of the most anticipated events in the Nigerian sporting calendar as the marathon keeps growing at high rate each edition,” he said.
Executive Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Sola Aiyepeku said the Lagos City Marathon is part of the many activities under the Greater Lagos initiative.
He noted that the marathon has grown beyond what was envisaged when it started four years ago declaring Lagos is open and receptive to events like this.
General Manager, Lagos City Marathon, Yusuf Ali said over 35 gold label and 42 silver label runners would participate in the 5th edition while they are not inviting any bronze label runner.
“IAAF Officials came to Nigeria at the weekend and they requested for the list of top class runners that would be featuring in the coming edition due to the silver label status and they are happy with what they got from us,” he disclosed.
Ali, a former African long jump record holder said an estimated 102, 000 participants took part in the last edition held in February 2019. The number, he said, is the second in the world after New York City Marathon.
