Race suffers setback as sponsors refuse to release more funds, Ambode to rescue situation

The Lagos City Marathon scheduled to kick off tomorrow, February 5, has suffered major set back as the show sponsors refused to release more funds.

According to Vanguard, the local organising committee are stuck as basic materials needed for the race which is expected to start 7am tomorrow are yet to be bought.

“We have been here since morning waiting for race t-shirts and other things we need, but we have been asked to wait till Saturday morning,” one of the athletics officials at the Teslim Balogun Stadium was quoted to have said yesterday.

However, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba was said to have assured that the show will go on on Saturday as planned.

“Already we have the elite athletes on ground. They are being kept at the Eko Hotels, even at that we have more than the number of international athletes we expected, and we have put them in hotels around Surulere.

“It is an Olympic year and most of the athletes here are aiming to run and get qualification times. So we are looking forward to a good start and finish on Saturday,” Ogba said.

Report said the organisers are relying on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to rescue the situation as he is expected to sign some cheques to make the race successful.

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It was reported that three bus load of international athletes were seen at the Teslim Balogun stadium.

The race starts at the National Stadium Lagos and finishes at the Eko Atlantic City. The total prize money for the race is set at N92 million.