The elite winner of the 2020 Lagos Women Run will take home a cash prize of N1 million on Saturday, November 21, 2020, when the first-ever virtual race takes place at the country’s commercial capital.
The General Coordinator of the Lagos Women Run, Tayo, said yesterday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, that, the immense contributions of the Lagos State government made it possible for the race to hold especially at a very difficult time of the country’s history.
“We have made all arrangements to ensure a safe race on November 21, for both the virtual and elite races.
“It’s the first time in Nigeria and indeed in Africa, so we want to make positive history that is why we have trained our local organising committee members to ensure all due diligence. All Covid-19 protocols will be strictly observed and implemented, as the entire world is watching our progress on the virtual race.”
Popoola stated that the organising committee has ensured that all virtual runners in the Open category understand the usage of the App which would monitor their races as they run anywhere in the country.
“There will be a central leaders board to monitor the progress of the virtual runners and automatically pick the top winners. The virtual category has the open and the veteran categories as they run with different colours of numbers. The winners will also go home with cash prizes after a thorough check of the App.”
The Technical Director of the Lagos Women Run, Olympian Yusuf Ali, said at the press conference held on the lawn of the Teslim Balogun Stadium car park, that, the elite runners would be closely monitored to adhere with all the regulations especially as it was done at the London Marathon some moths ago.
“It’s the first time this will be happening in Africa and we are determined to make positive history,” Yusuf Ali said.
He noted: “We are going to ensure that all the elite runners wear their face mask at the start point at the Tafawa Balewa Square, as the entire athletics world would be watching.
“The runners will be given three faces mask each, to wear the first one in the first 400 to 600 metres of the race and dispose of, while the second face mask is worn at the 4 kilometres mark, while the third one is worn from the 7 kilometres mark to the finish line. All the technical officials and medical staff at the finish line must wear their face mask.
“It’s the first time this will be happening in Africa and we are determined to make it an unforgettable experience,” Yusuf Ali said.
