By Uzor Odigbo
Senior Correspondent
The Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the Asaba 2018 Africa Senior Athletics Championships, Solomon Ogba, has assured sports fans that the people and government of Delta State will beat their own record set in 2013 when the state hosted the inaugural African Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC) which was adjudged by local and international athletics aficionados as the best ever.
Ogba told TheNiche at the weekend that Delta is committed to hosting the best African Senior Championships ever. “When we hosted AYAC, it was adjudged the best ever by CAA officials and other athletics buffs. We shall do the same with the Asaba 2018 Championships. From football to athletics, Delta State is used to hosting the world and we have competent managers who have observed and worked at the highest levels of sports organization from the Olympics Games to IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Games and others. We have capable hands and in Delta, sports is a way of life, our people are passionate about sports.”
Ogba, who is also the President of the Bobsled & Skeleton Federation of Nigeria, said the LOC will give Team Nigeria all the assistance they need so that Nigeria can host and win.
His words: “Nigeria sits up top in the all time African Senior Athletics Championships medals table and we are not ready to surrender that lead, especially when we are hosting, so all hands will be on deck to ensure that Team Nigeria performs great enough to win. We shall assist the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) in preparing athletics for the championships.”
The LOC Chairman also revealed that new members will be inducted into the CAA Hall of Fame in Asaba,
Ogba continued: “Beyond the championships proper, Asaba 2018 will be a celebration of athletics as the who is who in athletics worldwide will be in Asaba to celebrate our sports in Delta State.”
Meanwhile, the General Manager of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Yussuf Alli, at the weekend revealed that the aim of the race is to encourage the culture of running because of its immense health benefits.
“People talk about and emphasise the importance of primary healthcare but regular running, exercise and good hygiene help prevent all forms of diseases including terminal ones, and prevention, we all agree, it’s better than cure, so our aim is to encourage a culture that will prevent sickness and diseases.”
Alli said the theme of the 2018 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Expo slated for Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos from January 31 to February 9, 2018 is Wellness, Wellbeing and Healthy Living and a celebration of the Telecom Industry and its many contributions to our society.
