Cross River Gov't set for Agbokim Falls Green Marathon Race

 

Athletes participating  at the  first edition of  the 42 Kilometres Agbokim Falls Green Marathon Race in Cross River State will be coasting home with prize monies in millions of naira, organizers have said.

The Cross River State Government in conjunction with the Federal Ministries of Tourism and Sports Development with a group of entrepreneurs under the aegis of Creation Associate, have disclosed their readiness for the November 23^rd event.

Organisers said the  42 Kilometres Agbokim Falls Green Marathon Race will help in  promotion  of sports development, market the waterfalls and campaign for sustainable environmental conservation in the region.

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Chief Executive Officer CEO, Creation Associate,  Emem  Udominyang, disclosed in Calabar that  those behind the event  include the state’s former commissioner for Culture, Tourism development, Eric Anderson, Felix Uyah and Ikpeme Bassey amongst others.

Winners of the race shall coast home  with the   N2m star prize while  the  first runner up will get N1m with consolation prizes for other participants.

Expected  to be graced  by athletes across the country,   the  42 kilometre   Agbokim Falls  Green Marathon race is expected to start from Ikom, Last-Motor-Mission junction through  Ajassor and  finish at  Agbokim Waterfalls.

Emem Udominyang, CEO of Creation Associates, said: “This trail-blazing sports-tourism event is duly endorsed by the Federal and State Ministry of Sports Development, Federal and State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. For that  purpose, His Excellency , the governor of Cross River State,  Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has taken care of  all registration fees to make it a free entry event for this first edition.

“Our expectation is that athletes will participate in one of the three categories of the distance races, either as a  full marathon of 42.195Kms, half marathon of 21 Kms or the fun marathon of 5Kms.”

He added: “Other attractions include awards ceremony and concert, athlete village, exhibitions, picnics, photo-bliss and prize money  presentations amounting to twenty million naira.”

Udominyang  further disclosed that the marathon will   add value to the economy of the state stressing that very soon the  Agbokim Waterfalls Green Marathon will produce long distant racing athletes who will compete at international levels to make the State and Nation proud.

The group  stressed that with the marathon, more complementary infrastructure would be developed at the falls for increasing appeal and patronage, making tourism development an alternative economic hub for the  State, while upholding campaigns for environmental conservation.