The Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) will on August 06 host the first-ever international track and field meet in Ghana. The Ghana Grand Prix 2011, which has rLG Communications as the headline sponsor, will bring together international track & field champions from Jamaica, Kenya, USA, Canada, Ethiopia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Uganda, Nigeria and Ghana.

A statement signed by the President of the Association Professor Francis Dodoo says, “the Grand Prix will be a one-day professionally organized event at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi and it will be under the distinguished patronage of acknowledged sports star, President John Evans Atta Mills.”

“We have over the period preoccupied ourselves with strategies to boost Ghanaian interest in athletics while also giving a platform to especially our local athletes to compete with their international counterparts. The rLG Ghana Grand Prix is the first opportunity for our local athletes to meet their international counterparts on the field in Ghana, and we are confident that it will not only provide a competitive opportunity to our athletes but also offer them a platform to show to the world what they can do with more competitions”, Professor Dodoo noted.

According to the GAA, over eighty (80) athletes from various countries are expected to take part in the competition which will among others include: Javelin 800m Triple Jump 100m 1500m High Jump 200m 3000m Discus 400m Long Jump

There will be prize monies for all the events and according to the GAA they will seek special incentive packages for locally based athletes that excel. Professor Dodoo commended the headline sponsor, rLG Communications, official donor Unibank Ghana Limited and the Official TV Partners Ghana Television and MultiTV for their support. “Their support has come in early and is very encouraging. We look forward to getting the required support from other institutions that we have already contacted to partner us lift up athletics in Ghana.”