Unicentral Resources Generation Limited, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and Corporate Nigeria have put together one of such elite sports events called the Abuja International Marathon (AIM), which will become the first full international marathon in the FCT.
With many world-class non-football sports taking center stage across various cities in Nigeria recently, including the 5km Ogun Women Race, the ever-growing Okpekpe Road Race, Africa Cup Track Cycling Championship, and many more, the country is gradually moving from a football-dominated country to allow room for other sports to come to limelight.
According to the Project Coordinator, Femi Abegunde; “The Abuja International Marathon was initiated to foster unity and increase FCT residents’ general well-being because of the immense health benefits of running, jogging, and general exercise and attracting tourists from cities around the world”.
The theme of the maiden edition is ‘A Race for Unity’– is scheduled to take place on the 17th of December, 2022, with the race starting at Abuja City Gate and finishing at Eagles Square.
However, the race is divided into two phases, A Full Marathon and a 5km Fun Run 15,000 runners are expected to participate in the Full Marathon while 30,000 are expected for the 5KM Fun Run respectively while 80 those runners are expected to be foreign elite runners and 120 Nigerian elite runners.
“The full Full Marathon race will start at the Abuja City Gate by 7 am while the 5km Fun Run starting point is at Constitution Avenue with both races finishing at Eagles’ Square”. Abegunde added.
World Athletics and the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) rules and regulations will be applied for the tournament and the Abuja International Marathon (AIM) has zero-tolerance for the use of performance-enhancing drugs by runners and The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) would randomly select runners for dope tests.
For the full marathon category,1st position will win $50,000 2nd $40,000, 3rd $30,000, 4th $20,000, 5th $15,000 6th $10,000, 7th $8,000, 8th $6,000, 9th $4,000 and 10th $2,000
While in the Nigeria full marathon category, 1st goes home N3,000,000, 2nd N2,000,000, 3rd N1,000,000, 4th N750,000, 5th N600,000, 6th N500,000, 7th N400,000, 8th N300,000, 9th N200,000 and 10th N100,000
Meanwhile, 1st wins N500,000, 2nd will receive N300,000, 3rd gets N200,000, 4th will take home N100,000 and 5th gets N50,000, in the 5KM Road Race.
“Abuja International Marathon (AIM) aims to become a qualifier for the Olympics Games, World Athletics Championships, and the Abbott World Marathon Majors (Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago Tokyo, and New York City), within three years”.
“The race will be broadcast live on satellite television, terrestrial television, radio stations, and other media channels, especially social media”. He concluded.
, and Corporate Nigeria have put together one of such elite sports events called the Abuja International Marathon (AIM), which will become the first full international marathon in the FCT.){kind=link}