By Babatunde Michael.
The President of Bridgewater Foundation and organiser of Ekiti Marathon, Mr. Segun Oke, has said that the competition would commence in October and end in December.
Mr.Oke made this known while addressing members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital.
As the Foundation will be hosting “Ekiti Marathon 2022”, it’s expected that N1 billion would be raised for innovations, start-up and digital economy in a three categories competition of virtual marathon, relay and individual physical marathon.
According to him “the marathon is an attempt to translate a brand equity, awareness, investment into ideas generated by the young ones in the process of the development of Ekiti economy for prosperity of the people.
“In the virtual marathon, you can run anywhere across the globe. You just run, walk and you cover a distance, the application is called “GoPadi” and will be opened to all in October 16.
“The individual physical marathon would take place in Ekiti on December 3.
“The relay marathon, will come up in the last week of November for 3 days. It’s going to be a competition among the 16 local government areas in the state as each would present10 team members to run from Olukayode stadium to Ijan, Agbado to Ode, Omuo to Ikole, Oye, Ifaki and back to Ado-Ekiti. These teams will be exchanging batons to10 persons across the routes to the finishing line”
The Bridgewater Foundation President further explained that, there will be prizes for different categories of participants in the relay race, full marathon of 21 kilometers and Walk, Run and Cycle for 10 kilometers.
Others activities include walk race for Okada riders and drivers, dance aerobics in ten towns in Ekiti, including a walk cartoons in Lagos to create aware in readiness for the Ekiti Marathon 2022.