By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-01-25 03:44:05
World Athletics has officially announced that the 10th Okpekpe International 10km Road Race is scheduled to take place on May 25, 2024. This event is particularly significant as it is the first road running event in West Africa to receive recognition from World Athletics, and it is one of the 30 gold level road races listed in World Athletics’ global race calendar for 2024. In fact, out of the 167 road races confirmed by World Athletics for the year, the Okpekpe race is set to be the first gold level 10km road race held in 2024.
Zack Amodu, the Race Director, expressed his satisfaction with the listing, attributing the success of the Okpekpe Road Race to their ability to adhere to World Athletics rules and the tremendous support they have received from various stakeholders. He emphasized the support from the Okpekpe town and its environs, the people and government of Edo state, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, and their sponsors. Amodu also highlighted the impact of their sponsors in making Edo State and Nigeria a sought-after destination for sports.
He stated that the upcoming race on May 25 will place Nigeria at the center stage of the global sporting community, as it will be the only gold level road race taking place worldwide on that day, ensuring that all attention will be solely on the event without any distractions.
The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has consistently maintained its standard and continues to achieve excellence since it was awarded a bronze label status by World Athletics in 2015. This recognition and the progression to a gold level race is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and collaborative efforts of all those involved in organizing and supporting the event. The race has not only put Okpekpe and Edo State on the global athletics map but has also contributed significantly to positioning Nigeria as a prominent destination for sports.
