Cash crunch hits LOC, athletes arrive in batches for Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

Participants at the Obudu International Mountain Race at the starting point of the 2014 edition. The Lagos City Marathon will attract the best runners from across the world. PHOTO: SHENGOLPIXS.

FOREIGN athletes for the maiden Access Bank Lagos City Marathon arrived the country in batches yesterday, just as the Local Organising Committee (LOC) is said to have been hit by what an official described as ‘cash crunch.’

The athletes from the United States of America, England, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Bahrain, Cameroun and Rwanda arrived the Murtala Mohammed International airport yesterday afternoon. Among those on hand to receive the athletes was the General Manager for the marathon, Yussuf Alli.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, the Spokesman of the LOC, Olukayode Thomas, said they were expecting at least 60 elites athletes from different parts of the world. He revealed that about 50 of them had arrived in batches as at 3.30pm yesterday, adding that others were still being awaited.

Thomas described as untrue insinuation of cash crunch being peddled in some quarters. “The LOC is not experiencing any cash crunch. All the things we need for this marathon race have been provided. The athletes are arriving in batches and I can say we are ready for the race,” Thomas, who is the Media Officer of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) stated.

However, a member of the organising body told The Guardian that getting fund to carry out some major assignments was difficult for the members, adding that some top officials of the LOC had decided to look ‘elsewhere’ for money to avoid total breakdown.

The official, who pleaded anonymity, said some of the programmes lined up before the commencement of the race might be cancelled due to the cash crunch.

Another official stated yesterday that a group of people who were suppose to bring the marathon torch from Greece to Lagos could not make the trip.

Efforts to speak with the Chairman of the LOC, Deji Tinubu, who is the chairman of Lagos Sports Commission were unsuccessful yesterday, as he refused to answer the calls put to him by The Guardian. He also failed to respond to the SMS sent to his mobile phone.

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Ogba, who is also a member of the LOC, also refused to answer the several calls put across to him by The Guardian.

Among top athletes expected to take part in the marathon race are Kenya’s Josphat Kifanni Too, who has a Personal Best Time of 2.08.23secs, Peter Kiplagat (Kenya), who won the 2015 Geneva Marathon and Sammy Kibet, winner of the 2011 Warsaw Marathon.

Over 20,000 runners are expected to feature in the marathon race, which has been branded the first of its kind in over three decades.

The race will begin on Saturday morning from the Old Lagos (National Stadium Surulere) and will terminate at New Lagos (Eko Atlantic City), a distance of 42.195 km.