The Ministry of Youth and Sports in partnership with the Millennium Marathon Sports Limited has launched the first International Marathon Race to be held in the country to promote good health amongst the people.

The national event, which will be held in Accra on September six this year, will be preceded by regional marathons starting with Tamale on Monday, May 25.

The rest of the regional marathons are Bolgatanga, May 30, Wa June 20, Sunyani June 27, Kumasi, July 1, Ho, July 11, Koforidua, July 18, Cape Coast, July 25 and Sekondi/Takoradi, July 25.

Major (retired) Alhaji Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Minister of Youth and Sports, who launched the event in Tamale on Thursday, said it was also to unearth young talents as well as promote the country on the international scene.

Alhaji Dr Ahmed said over 1,500 international athletes mostly from East Africa were expected to take part in the national event adding measures had been put in place to ensure that the event became an annual one.

He said at national level, there would be three awards each for male and female categories with the overall winners taking home Peugeot 305 vehicles whiles the first and second runners up would take home cash prizes including other consolation prizes.

At regional levels, the winner and first and second runners up in male and female categories would take home a refrigerator each, plasma television amongst others including consolation prizes.

Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, Deputy Northern Regional Minister spoke about the socio-economic importance of sports to the development of the country and urged all to make the event a success.

Alhaji Fuseini said selecting Tamale as one of the venues for the regional event was an expression of confidence in the city, which would go a long way to market it to the rest of the world.

So far, about 1,500 athletes have registered to take part in the regional marathon to be held in Tamale.

Mr Hanan Gundadow, Mayor of Tamale said the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly would institute measures to ensure success of the event in the regio