Registration for the first ever international marathon event in Ghana dubbed the Millennium Marathon has started even before the proposed regional marathons take off.
According to Roland Bruce, a member of the National Organising Committee (NOC), the registration process started after a publication and an advert in the Daily Graphic and Graphic Sports were published.
He said prospective runners are advised to register on time to avoid rush as the Marathon organisers are targeting 15,000 participants who would be numbered, kitted and advised on the health benefits of running or jugging.
He noted that since it is an international event, many foreign athletes would take part and hoped it would be another opportunity to market Ghana’s tourism potentials.
Roland Bruce urged Ghanaian athletes to join the regional events and train hard to grab the mouthwatering price of a brand new Peugeot salon car and other prices from sponsors.
He stressed that there are many benefits to be derived from the first Accra Millennium Marathon, such as running to be fit, running to make friends and business contacts and partners, running to advertise for companies who are supporting the event and running to market Ghana.
He urged all sports men and women to join the race and participate.
“Let me use this medium to invite our honourable sportsmen and women to join in this first marathon. We wish to see our idols like Professor Azumah Nelson, Stephen Tornado Appiah, Laryea Kingston, the boxers and footballers must all come and run with us” he said.
Registration for the event is 10ghc for Ghanaians and $40 for non-Ghanaians in the 21 kilometers race, whilst the 5 kilometers race will cost 10ghc for Ghanaians, 5ghc for the youth aged between 18years -25years and $20 for non-residents.
Registration can be done on line through – millenniummarathon.com/registration/entry.info.2/ or buying the Daily Graphic and Graphic Sports to fill a form.
Selected outlets for registration include the Adidas office at Stanbic Heights near Airport, Graphic Communications, Ethiopia Airlines, Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the Ghana Athletic Association (GAA) at the main gate of the Accra Sorts Stadium.
Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie is the race director. He was in Accra to launch the September 6 race and he advised Ghanaians to take part in the historical event.
Gebrselassie has won two Olympic gold medals and he is world champion over 10,000 meters. He won the Berlin Marathon four times on the row and had three straight wins for the Dubai Marathon.
He also won the world indoor title four times and broke 61 Ethiopian national records ranging from 800 meters to the marathon. For the records Haile Gebrselassie set 27 world records, and is widely considered one of the greatest distance runners in history.
He is also mentor and ambassador for the G4S 4teen, a programme supporting 14 young athletes.