By Uzor Odigbo
Organizers of the historic, gold-label Okpekpe International 10km road race says the race would not have been the huge success it has become today without the support it has received from Supersport.
Race owner, Mike Itemuagbor revealed this at a meeting with the new Multichoice South Africa CEO, Marc Jury at a meeting in Johannesburg last week.
Itemuagbor says the race has always been beamed live to millions of homes across Africa and live-streamed to millions of others across the globe and Supersport has been with the race since the beginning.
‘We started as the first race to have its race course measured by a World Athletics accredited course measurer as well as the first to be granted a label (bronze) status seven years after World Athletics started classification of important road races across the globe.
‘We knew the importance of getting the race to a global audience and this informed our partnership with Supersport albeit World Athletics requirements at the time did not include live telecast of the race,’ said Itemuagbor.
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Continuing, Itemuagbor, who decorated Jury with a customised medal used at the race, said the new Multichoice South Africa CEO has been a huge supporter of the race.’ ‘Marc Jury has been a huge supporter of the race when he was head of Supersport. I am here to personally say a big thank you to him.
The race has become a major event that attracts the attention of a huge global audience and I am also here to discuss how we can take the race to the next level.’ Itemuagbor is delighted the race is impacting greatly on the people of Edo state and has been a huge marketing tool for Nigeria.
The race has impacted greatly on the community in and around Okpekpe, especially the students of Edo State University, Uzauire in terms of knowing how to organise and manage events through their participation in several volunteer groups. ‘
The students were drawn from their related disciplines such as Mass Communication, Medicine and Surgery and Engineering programmes. ‘Their participation helps them gain practical knowledge about their chosen discipline
