Bolgatanga (Upper East), 6th July 99 -

This year's Olympic Day run was held simultaneously at Tamale, Bolgatanga and Wa in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions at the weekend.

It was organised by the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and sponsored by the Coca Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Limited (CCBCG), which provided 3000 "T" shirts, 170 crates of assorted soft drinks and nine banners, valued at 16 million cedis.

About 1,200 sports enthusiasts ranging from the age of nine to 68 years from all walks of life took part in the 10 kilometre non-competitive walking exercise at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

The participants include Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, the Regional Minister, Mr David Yaro, and the regional co-ordinating director, heads of departments, students, the public and members of the security agencies.

In a message read for him, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch underlined the uniqueness of the event as an annual sporting affair that seeks to foster unity, harmony and peaceful co-existence in the world.

Mr Samaranch said it was important that everyone had access to some form of physical exercise or another through their life, emphasising that sports for all must be the cornerstone of human development in the next millennium.

He noted that for more than a century now, the aim of the world Olympic movement has remained unchanged in trying to use sports to encourage the establishment of a peaceful society and preserve human dignity.

Alhaji Sulemana stressed the need for the private sector and individuals to complement government efforts in the development of sports, adding that government alone cannot provide sporting facilities at all times.

He urged the business community in the region to sponsor sporting events as a way of marketing the socio-cultural and economic potentials of the region.

Alhaji Sulemana commended the GOC and Coca-Cola company for organising the event in the region and gave the assurance that the people of the area would support the GOC to enable Ghana to participate in the year 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.

Mr Henry Ashun, representative of Coca-Cola, said as the sole corporate supporter of the Olympic Day run world-wide, his company would continue to support the GOC and other National Olympic committees in the years ahead through increases sponsorship.

He said CCBCG does not limit its sports sponsorship to only the Olympic Day run activities, but has also provided substantial sponsorship packages to other events like football and law tennis, world-wide.

The president of GOC, Mr B.T. Baba, who is also a director of Ghana Prisons Service, called on all Ghanaians to contribute generously to enable Ghana to participate in the year 2000 Olympic Games.

Even though the event was non-competitive, Master Maclean Seidu, 18-year-old student of Bolgatanga Secondary School (Big Boss) came first, while nine-year-old Master Awal Osumanu, class two pupil of Bolgatanga Anglican Primary School was the youngest participant.

GRi?/