IAAF President confirms presence at Access Bank Marathon

Sebastian Coe, the President, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), has confirmed that he would attend the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Feb. 6.

The confirmation is contained in a statement by Olukayode Thomas, the Head of Media, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on Saturday in Lagos.

The statement, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that Solomon Ogba, the President of AFN, also confirmed the presence of the IAAF president at the Marathon.

The statement which disclosed that Thomas, who is attending the Dubai City Marathon, said the AFN boss noted that the forthcoming race was generating huge interest across the world.

``I can confirm to you that the IAAF President, Sebastian Coe, has given us his words that he will be in Lagos for the maiden Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

``I am also equally pleased to see the kind of interest that the Lagos marathon is generating around the world,’’ it quoted quoted Ogba as saying.

It added that Paula Radcliffe, the world record holder in women’s marathon had indicated interest to participate in 2017.

``I am happy to endorse the Lagos City International Marathon; I look forward to possibly working with you next year,’’ the statement also quoted Radcliffe as saying. It said that ``even in its maiden edition, the Lagos City marathon is guaranteed a star-cast with almost 70 elite athletes across the world guaranteed to compete’’.