Okpekpe: Organisers give timeline for athletes registration

Organisers of the IAAF Silver Label Okpekpe international 10km road race have given Tuesday May 1 and and Saturday May 5,.2018  as the closing dates for registration of athletes for the sixth edition of the race which holds on Saturday May 12 in Okpekpe near   Auchi,Edo state.
Zak Amodu,the race’s director of organisation says the first deadline of May 1,2018 is for the international elite athletes while the second is for the local elites as well as others who will either be running for fun or for charity.
‘The registration for international elite athletes will close on Tuesday May 1,2018 and registration for this set will be done by their various managers. The same date also applies to those we will be invited for the race as we want to tidy up logistics for the administrative and technical organisation of the race very early,’said Amodu who believes many elites athletes will register for the race because of its elevated status as an IAAF Silver Label event,the first in Nigeria nay est Africa.
Amodu also explains that the second deadline of May 5 is for the registration of elite athletes including those that will be done by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for Nigerian elite athletes.
‘Entry form and other documents must be received by the deadline date and entries mailed after the deadline date will not be accepted,’warned Amodu.
Meanwhile registered athletes are expected to start arriving from Wednesday May 9 to begin the processes of screening and accreditation.
‘Like the five previous editions,we will still insist that athletes must complete the authentic application forms with duly certified medical report before confirmation can be given.We will also carry out own medical tests on all the athletes before accepting them to run”,Amodu revealed.
The race top official also revealed that the number card (bib) pick up will also start on Wednesday May 9 at Yak Hotel in Auchi.
The Okpekpe international 10km road race will be the first IAAF Silver Label 10km race of the year.It will hold a day before
the IAAF Gold Label Tata Consultancy Services World 10K in Bangalore, India.
The race is the only road race recognised by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and it is
organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing, leaders in sports marketing and hospitality business in Nigeria