By Victor Enyinnaya on February 3, 2017

With just a few days to the February 11 date for the second edition of Access Bank Plc 2017 Lagos Marathon, the fever is already catching on in the metropolitan city as major roads and adjoining streets are already announcing the much awaited IAAF sanctioned one day sporting summit.

Access Bank, in its tradition, is painting a colourful and brighter picture of what will be on ground at the D-Day. It was gathered that the banking giant and the state government have set their mind on a one stop international sporting meet that would be the talk of the town for its positive antidotes in athletics calendar which would aid to attract unprecedented athletic buffs in the third edition.

Indepth investigations carried out by Daily Sports that spanned one month revealed that every arrangement is being put in place to ensure a hitch free competition, whose memories would linger on.

It was further gathered that shortly after the world media conference by Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, in December last year, all the key players immediately set out for work in earnest to formulate water tight strategies that would make great impact and difference as promised during the closing of the first edition in 2016.

According to a top official in Access Bank, it has been work, work and work geared towards ensuring that everything that would add value to the international sporting masterpiece is put in place.

During several visits to the Teslim Balogun Stadium secretariat of the ad havoc staff everyone was busy discharging their responsibilities while meetings of various magnitude were going on at different locations within the arena.

General Manager of the event and ex-international, Yusuf Ali, told Daily Sports that Lagos State Government, the major sponsor, Access Bank and other partners have all been wonderful and faithful to their responsibilities in their spirited bid to set the tone for an outstanding Marathon athletics championship.

“You can see all hands on deck to give it all round push to meet the set goal. It is obvious that this edition will be beauty to behold in every aspect. The work already in place shows the direction of the pendulum, no guess work, it’s obvious. It is good for the development of the sport.

“The Marathon event would vividly report the true and dripping potentials of tourism, arts, entertainment, sports and sundry of Lagos State to the world. We are working hard to even exceed our set goal. I must also say that the presence of Access Bank in the whole showpiece could be safely said to be an icing of the cake.

“Our athletes are speedily embracing the long distance race and I believe with strict right attitude on their part, indicators are that the country would take its pride of place in the nearest future,” Ali explains.

The ex-international also revealed that there is a touch of class in all that have been put in place and at the end of the day, Nigerian athletics would gain further. He posited that the awareness and participation this version remains upbeat in all ramifications which he attributes to the importance the state government, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Access Bank Plc and other partners attached to the international sporting calendar.

It was further learnt that aside from Access Bank Plc ensuring all that is required of it was provided well ahead as major sponsor, the Lagos State Government and its agencies have mapped out strategic measures that every logistic would be adequately taken care of without any hassle.

As at press time, many media houses – print, electronic and online – had sent the names of their sports journalists and photo journalists, local and international, for adequate coverage of the event. 

•Marathoners during the maiden Access Bank Lagos Marathon held in 2016.

Source Daily Sports

Posted February 3, 2017

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