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02 December 2007

Glo Mock Marathon: Adeniji-Adele hails Glo as MBI staff breaks record
 

Lagos State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele has said that the Glo/AFN Lagos International Half Marathon has gotten off to a good start with the impressive conduct of the Media Mock Marathon on Saturday.

Prince Adeniji-Adele noted that though it was Globacom’s first time of organising the competition for journalists, it went without a hitch.

He spoke after presenting the top prize to Ifeoluwa Oluokun of Minaj Television, who won the mock marathon for the second consecutive year. Oluokun also broke his personal record by doing the 3.3 kilometre race in just over 12 minutes.

Etaghene Edirin of Champion Newspapers and Ogbe Pius of Daily Independent newspaper finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in the race that began at Glo world Adeola Odeku Street and ended at Mike Adenuga Towers.

Commenting after the race, Oluokun said he was doubly gratified that he defended his title and he emerged the first to win the Mock Marathon under Globacom’s sponsorship.

The first three women journalists to cross the finish line also received prizes along with the overall winners.

Blessing Ezurike and Oluchi Onyeukwu both of Champion newspapers won the first and second female prizes respectively. While Kofoworola Bello-Osagie of The Nation Newspaper was second runner-up.

Speaking to journalists during the finish point hospitality at the Mike adenuga Towers the Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Elias Gora, said that going by Saturday’s Mock Marathon, the main Half Marathon on December 8 is expected to run smoothly.

“Even though this is our first time of sponsoring the Lagos International Half Marathon, our experience has left us upbeat that we will even do better when we roll out our full plan for the main race in a few day’s time” he said.

The Mock Marathon, designed exclusively for journalists and media workers, traditionally serves as a dress rehearsal for the main International Half-Marathon which is scheduled for December 8 2007.

Apart from the mock marathon, the Lagos International Half Marathon will also comprise of a special leg of the event, christened the Corporate Fun Run, solely for the corporate sector and this will hold on December 8, concurrently with the Main Half Marathon. The Corporate Fun Run goes over a 2.805km course through Victoria Island.

02 December 2007

Top Athletes arrive for Glo Lagos Marathon
 

Title sponsor of this year’s Lagos International Half Marathon Globacom Limited, and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have announced that all is set for the series of events that will climax in the main half marathon on December 8 2007.

Unveiling the plans for the marathon, which Globacom is organising for the first time this year, Globacom’s Senior manager, Sponsorships, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, who was speaking on behalf of the Local organising Committee, announced that not less than 47 elite international athletes have signed on to contest for the $50,000 prize money with about 35,000 others who registered in the country to run the marathon.

One of the champion runners expected for this marathon is Robert Cheruiyot, from Kenya. Cheruiyot won the Boston Marathon thrice: in 2003, 2006 and 2007. He also won the Chicago marathon in 2006.

Other international professionals registered for the event are Ivuti Patrick Mutuku, Chebor William Chebon, Kebenei Wilson Kiprotich , Kirong Duncan Kibet all from Kenya.

Also registered are Yonas Kifles, Yared Asmeron, Tesfayohannes Mesfen from Eritrea. Among the women elite runners are Debela Berhane Adere from Ethiopia, Timbilili Alice Jemeli from Kenya and Magarsa Askale Tafa, Ethiopia.

Most of the athletes are scheduled to arrive before December 6, 2007.

In the build up to the half marathon is a Pasta Party designed to boost the energy bank of the runners ahead of the race. The pasta party comes up in the evening of the 6th after the arrival of the elite athletes.

Meanwhile the Lagos state government, through the State Ministry of Transport, has approved the routes of the marathon be closed to traffic from 7am to 11am that the marathon would hold.

The marathon will begin at the General Post Office, Marina, run through Tafawa Balewa Square, to Awolowo road, down to Sanusi Fafunwa, Adetokunbo Ademola, Ahmadu Bello streets on to Apongbon Bridge and end at the National Stadium, Surulere.

Commenting on the readiness of the organisers for the event, Sarafa-Yusuf said that runners will start picking up their kits and Bibs from Friday, November 29, 2007 at the National Stadium and the exercise will continue until the eve of the event.

For this marathon, Glo is partnering with Leadway Assurance for insurance cover for all the athletes. The policy covers injury, permanent disability and death.

For Medicare, Critical Rescue International - CRI - which is the Glo Lagos Marathon health partner has a comprehensive plan: For Mock marathon CRI has in place Ambulances and on response car, 4 Doctors. 3 Nurses, 2 first aid workers and 3 Physiotherapists.

For the Main Marathon CRI has in place 5 ambulances, two response cars and a medical crew of 20 Doctors, 20 Nurses, 20 Physiotherapists, 20 First Aid workers, 10 Drivers and one pharmacist.

On site, a 6-member call centre for co-ordination and management of all ambulances and crew will form a web to respond and pick up and stragglers and fatigued runners at the event.

Also medical consumables will be provided in all CRI ambulances, Lagos State Emergency Services (LASEMS) ambulances and in two General Hospitals.

In addition to these, Lagos State Assets Management buses (LAGBUS) popularly called BRT buses will be available to pick runners on the morning of the event. The “BRT”, will be made available from the following points: Ojota- 2 buses, Ojodu -2 buses. Oshodi- 2 buses, Iyana Ipaja- 2 buses, Mile 2- 2 buses, Ajah 2- buses, Mobil (sand fill, Lekki expressway) -1 bus and National Stadium- 2 buses.

These buses would be at the pick-up points between 5:30am and 6:30am and all the runners who wish to board these buses would need to be in their marathon running vests and bibs.

But marathoners have been told that if they arrive after 6.30am, they should please find their way to the start point which is the General Post Office, Marina Lagos.

Sarafa-Yusuf commended the Lagos state Government for its support; “we owe a lot to Lagos State, especially the Governor’s Office, the Ministries of Sports, Transport, Health and Environment. To them we owe the closure of roads, clean-up of the environment, provision of medical support and security” she said.

The prize money offered by this year’s sponsor of the Lagos International Half Marathon, National Telecoms Operator, Globacom, is the biggest cash prize ever offered for any marathon not only in Nigeria but in Africa.

According to sports analysts, the prize money of $210,000 (about N27 million) is about three times bigger than the biggest marathon prize on the continent so far.

The Nairobi marathon for example, offers a total of $76, 000 for all categories which include a full marathon, a half marathon and a wheelchair race. The Lagos marathon is only a half marathon.

Globacom is sponsoring this year’s half marathon which takes place on December 8. Globacom holds the sponsorship rights for five years in the first instance.

01 November 2007

Collection of kits for Glo Marathoners Continue
 

Participants in the first Glo Lagos International Half Marathon will begin to collect their kits and running bibs from Friday November 29, 2007. A statement from the media centre of the marathon explained that runners will have until December 7 to collect their running materials from the National Stadium Lagos.

The statement quoted Globacom’s manager in charge of the Marathon, Mrs Modele Sarafa-Yusuf as saying that the stands for kit distribution are arranged alphabetically and that all registered runners should, on arrival at the stadium check for stands with the alphabets that begin their names.

About 30,000 persons have so far registered for the race both on-line and by hard copy. However, the organisers have assured that there is enough for everybody.

“There is enough materials for everybody so there would be no need for participants to rush and jostle” Sarafa -Yusuf said. She also explained that all those who cross the finish line will be given goodie bags after the race.

The Half Marathon takes off on Saturday December 8 2007, at the Marina Lagos and finishes at the National Stadium Surulere Lagos where there will be a prize giving ceremony, refreshment and “lots of entertainment with popular musicians in attendance”

While the main marathon is taking place, the Corporate Marathon, tagged Corporate Fun Run, will hold simultaneously but through a different route. The Corporate Marathon which promises to feature celebrities and other important personalities will take off and end at the Lagoon restaurant on Victoria Island Lagos.

Parents will also have the opportunity to run with their children for the fun of it.

23 November 2007

Glo Brings Timing Chips to Lagos Marathon
 

In line with its commitment to improve the technical standard of the December 8, 2007 Lagos International Half Marathon, and make the event world class, title-sponsor of the event and telecommunications giant, Globacom, has announced plans to introduce the best technology for timing the runners and recording the results of the race.

In this respect the company is making available to elite runners a timing chip, otherwise called ChampionChip.

A ChampionChip is a miniature waterproof, transponder which the runner ties to his running shoes and is marked with a unique identification number. The transponder transmits its unique identification number to a receiver that records the movements of the chip over time. The chip makes it possible for each runner to be timed accurately, and it eliminates the possibility of a runner starting the race anywhere else other than the start off point .

With the use of the timing chips, the results of the Glo-Lagos Marathon will be accurate, credible and acceptable world wide.

According to a statement from the Local Organising Committee of the event, the timing chip is “precise, convenient, easy to use and it allows for immediate recording and reporting of results.”

The ChampionChip is used in all major marathons and several active sports all over the world for accurate and immediate timing Chips issued by the event, are to be returned after crossing the finish line. The event brochure and information package will include instructions for using and returning the ChampionChip

Already the elite marathoners around the world are excited about this year Lagos Marathon and the prospects offered by the modern device. Several leading athletes have signed on to grace the event.

21 November 2007

BRT Buses to Convey Glo Marathoners
 

As part of plans to make the Glo Lagos International Half Marathon a world class event and the best ever in Nigeria, Globacom has made arrangements for the new Lagos State Assets Management buses (LAGBUS ) to pick up athletes from designated points in the city to the start point at Marina.

In a statement to the media, the project manager, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf said “This event is about the runners and we’ve observed that because of road closures and diversions, many of them walk long distances and wear themselves out before getting to the start point. That’s a lot of energy expended which would have gone into the race. We want to make it easier for runners to get to the event and in good time, hence this shuttle bus arrangement”

The LAGBUS vehicles , popularly known as “BRT”, will be made available from the following points: Ojota- 2 buses, Ojodu -2 buses, Oshodi- 2 buses, Iyana Ipaja- 2 buses, Mile 2- 2 buses, Ajah 2- buses, Mobil (sand fill, Lekki expressway) -1 bus and National Stadium- 2 buses.

These buses would be at the pick-up points between 5:30am and 6:30am and all that runners who wish to board these buses would be in their marathon running vests and bibs.

The Glo Lagos International Half Marathon will take place on Saturday, 8th December. The flag off time is 7.00am.

Other legs of the marathon scheduled for that day includes the Corporate Marathon for workers.

Globacom also plans to hold a mock race on December 1, to test-run all the plans for the marathon. The Mock race will be run by media workers only.

30 October 2007

Media accreditation starts for Glo Marathon
 

Media accreditation for the 2007 Glo Lagos Half Marathon has commenced for eligible Nigerian and foreign Journalists in the print and electronic media practitioners. The organizers of the prestigious event said in a press statement that provision has been made to accredit over 2000 Journalists expected to cover the race holding on December 8 in Lagos.

Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, the Globacom Official in charge of the project said Journalists will be accorded all courtesies in line of their duty because the company recognizes the crucial role they play not only in providing information for the public about the marathon, but also in promoting the company.

In the words of Sarafa-Yusuf, “Globacom in conjunction with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria will provide the enabling environment for over two thousand Journalists, consisting of sports writers, sports photographers, broadcasters, cameramen, and filmmakers from all over the world to cover the event without hitches.

We have gone this length because we recognize that the Glo Lagos International Half Marathon is the biggest of its kind in Africa and will therefore attract the highest number of elite athletes and ordinary participants”

She said Globacom has made provisions for live television coverage of the race to beam the pictures to people in their homes within and outside Nigeria. “The Glo Lagos International Marathon will show-case Nigeria as a holiday destination and we can only achieve this by beaming the country to the outside world real time”, she added.

The accreditation forms are available online on the glolagosmarathon.com/registration. Completed accreditation forms can also be returned through electronic mail to the addresses provided in the forms.

The media office of the Glo Lagos Marathon urged Journalists to endeavour to return their completed accreditation forms in good time as priority will be given to early birds. “We will provide the best equipment and tools for all logistics and convenience of all accredited Journalists but it will also be on a first come first serve basis”, noted Charles Ikoabasi of the Glo Lagos Marathon Media Office.

26 October 2007

Ali Baba, Paul Play, Nollywood stars, others to run celebrity race
 

Ace entertainers including comedians Ali Baba, Holy Mallam; musicians Paul “Play” Dairo, Faze of the “Kolo Mental” fame and several other artistes have enrolled to run in the Glo – Lagos Marathon.

Nollywood stars are also planning what’s being called ‘The Famous Challenge’: An idea conceived by actress Shan George, this is a group of three celebrities challenging another team of three during the race.

The stars will run in a specially packaged novelty section called Celebrity Fun Run, which comes up on the same day as the main marathon on December 8, 2007. Some of the others who have signed up to run the celebrity race include Daddy Showkey, DJ Jimmy Jatt, broadcasters Rakiya Zubairu, Adesuwa Onyenokwe & Bisi Olatilo; publisher Betty Irabor and gospel musician Mike Aremu.

The Celebrity Fun Run which falls under the Corporate Marathon is to be run over a distance of 2.805km, starting and finishing at the Lagoon Restaurant, Victoria Island Lagos. The race which goes through a different route begins an hour after the main marathon takes off at marina Lagos. Information from the Glo-Marathon office reveals that a pasta party will be held three days before the Corporate Marathon with a lot of carbohydrates so “as to help the marathoners carbo-load” Arrangements have also been firmed up with relevant authorities and apex fitness institutions to ensure health and fitness for corporate participants preparatory to the Marathon.

Beyond the opportunity of engaging Nigerians in a general fitness exercise, Glo is organizing the Corporate Marathon with the Celebrity Fun Run to encourage fitness, friendship and fun among white collar workers and high net worth individuals.

The event will be preceded by training programmes in the media and a coaching clinic which will help Nigerians get a crack at the mouth watering cash prizes on offer.

26 October 2007

Lagos Marathon: Glo partners Critical Rescue International
 

Nigeria’s telecommunications giant and title sponsor of the Lagos International Half Marathon, Globacom, has partnered Critical Rescue International, CRI, toward the successful hosting of the Glo-Lagos International Half Marathon, scheduled to hold in Lagos on Saturday December 8, 2007. Critical Rescue International is Nigeria’s first national advanced medical paramedics company.

Officials of the company made the disclosure at a stakeholder roundtable with the sporting media at the Mike Adenuga Towers, Lagos, headquarters of Globacom’s operation. According to Globacom’s Event and Sponsorship Manager, Tosin Omoyajowo, “CRI is reputed with professional management of medical emergencies and will deploy a team of qualified medical personnel, ambulances and helicopters on the race day, in line with international best practices.

He disclosed that the company operates a fleet of ambulances that are mobile intensive care units and response cars that are fully equipped to handle emergencies. “CRI is equipped with up-to-date medical rescue technology and expertise available in the world”, he said.

Omoyajowo disclosed that arrangements were being firmed up with relevant authorities and apex fitness institutions to ensure health and fitness for corporate participants preparatory to the Marathon.

Omoyajowo reiterated the company’s commitment to staging a world-class event, adding that Globacom has earmarked a whopping $210, 000 (about N27 million) cash prizes and other incentives for winners of the 21 kilometres race.

“The top finishers in the male and female categories will smile home with $50, 000 each while the first, second, third and fourth runners-up in both male and female categories will each receive $25, 000, $15, 000, $10, 000 and $5, 000.

This according to the Event and Sponsorship Manager is intended to shore up the profile of the Marathon as well as attract quality participation of Nigerian runners and elite marathoners across the globe.

Beyond the opportunity of engaging Nigerians in a general fitness exercise, Glo, according to Omoyajowo is empowering Nigerians to rule their world in the marathon arena. He noted that the Kenyans, Ethiopians and the Ugandans who are renowned for their marathon prowess started from somewhere, adding that with the can-do spirit of the average Nigerian, he won’t be surprised if a Nigerian emerges winner of the race.

Omoyajowo stated that Globacom will continue to make positive contributions to sports development in Nigeria in cognizance of its positive impact on Nigeria’s social and economic development.

10 October 2007

Glo breaks "Who Runs Lagos" campaign
 

Telecoms giant, Globacom Limited which recently secured the rights to the Lagos International Half Marathon, has kicked off the media campaign that will lead to the one day grand event, which comes up on December 8, 2007. The campaign which broke recently with a teaser, revealed the theme of this year’s half-marathon “Who Runs Lagos?”

Speaking on the choice of this year’s theme, Globacom’s Senior Manager Events and Sponsorship, Modele Sarafa-Yusuf said the slogan is a build up on the Rule Your World pay off line of the company.

“We are playing on the word Run which is a subtle reference to Rule. While we are in one breadth encouraging everyone to literary run this marathon for the fun of running and for sound health, we are also in the same breadth inspiring athletes to rule the race tracks of the Lagos half marathon and pick the unprecedented $50,000 we are putting on the plate for the overall winner” she said Since the campaign broke last Monday, there has been a flurry of discussions over the suspense created by the teaser “who runs Lagos ”. While some thought it was another competitive product from the stables of the telecoms giant, some other members of the public were overheard suggesting that Globacom might have come out with another pay off line in the mould of “Rule Your World” or another campaign slogan like “We Live where You Live”

However, Sarafa-Yusuf said that the teaser was Globacom’s way of generating excitement around the marathon before the break of the main advert campaign. The full message of the campaign for the event has opened along with the reveal of the marathon logo.

According to Sarafa-Yusuf, this year’s event is open to every category of persons, from professional athletes, all categories of workers, executives, and even children. “We want elite runners and ordinary Nigerians to partake in the race, not just for the money but for fun and for good health, we want every one to run Lagos or at least watch others run” she said.

Globacom is organising this year’s marathon with the philosophy that the Marathon can be run by people of all demographic and psychographic categories and it has the potential to capture the imagination of everyone. The company believes that it is one sport in which spectators can feel as much a part of the race as the runners.

8 August 2007

Globacom plans richest and biggest half marathon in Africa
 

The prize money offered by this year's sponsor of the Lagos International Half Marathon, National Telecoms Operator, Globacom, has been described as the biggest cash prize ever offered for any marathon not only in Nigeria but in Africa. According to sports analysts, the prize money of $210,000 (about N27 million) is about three times bigger than the biggest marathon prize on the continent so far. The Nairobi marathon for example, offers a total of $76, 000 for all categories which include a full marathon, a half marathon and a wheelchair race. The Lagos marathon is only a half marathon. This year's prize money is also the biggest in Nigeria, ten times larger than last year's prize of $28,500. The highest individual prize last year was $10,000 for the overall male winner, while the female overall winner got only $5,000.

However, another highlight of this year's half marathon is the parity in cash prizes: both the male and female winners will take home the same cash prizes for their category. Globacom has revealed that overall winners in the forth-coming Half Marathon will take home equal prizes of $50,000 (N6.5 million) each. Breakdown of the prize structure shows that the male and female overall winners of the race will take home $50,000 (N6.5 million) each. The first runners up (male and female) will receive $25,000k (N3.25 million) each while the second male and female runners up will receive $15,000 (N1.95 million) each. The male and female runners who come in fourth place will receive cash prizes of $10,000 (N1.3 million) each while the fifth placed male and female finalists will receive $5,000 (N650,000) each.

There are also prizes for the first 100 finishers. In addition to the cash prizes, all the winners will receive handsets and airtime while all those who cross the finish line will take home a goodie bag of gift items and a certificate of participation. Globacom is sponsoring this year's half marathon which takes place on December 8. Globacom holds the sponsorship rights for five years in the first instance.

Commenting on Globacom's jumbo sponsorship deal, Mrs. Modele Sarafa-Yusuf, a Senior Manager, Sponsorships, said the company wants to "give everyone a reason to put on their running shoes. We know that amidst the hustle and bustle of city life, people crave an atmosphere of fun in which relaxation, health, fitness, family bonding and friendship are nurtured and the Glo International Marathon provides such a forum." She added that the company wants to encourage Nigerians to be more committed to exercises in order to stay healthy and increase their life span. The event will be preceded by training programmes in the media and a coaching clinic which will help Nigerians get a crack at the mouth watering cash prizes on offer. According to Sarafa-Yusuf, details of the event and the various race categories will be announced soon.