Retired Athletes For 2nd Africa Athletic Championships

The Secretary, Nigerian Athletic Masters (NAM), Uruemu
Adu, yesterday  in Lagos said that no
fewer than 300 retired African athletes were expected at the 2nd Africa
Athletic Masters Championships.

Adu
told Tidesports that the event which would hold from May 30 to June 1 in
Lagos would be memorable.

“We
are going to group them into the 35 to 39, 40 to 44, 45 to 49 and 50 to 54 till
100 years. It is going to be fun,’’ he said.

The
scribe said that Lagos was chosen as the host city due to logistics, adding
that Nigeria which was known for showmanship would showcase a lot of
entertainment to thrill spectators.

“Nigeria
being known for what we are in the area of showmanship, we will thrill
spectators at the event. We can also boast of a lot of former athletes who have
done the country proud in the past.

“I
think it is noteworthy that Mary Onyali and Chidi Imoh are some of the faces to
be seen at the championships,’’ Adu said.

The
competition is an idea of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF)
to engage former athletes in sports. It is also to preach that sports are
continuous in life.

He
said that age should not deter any individual from participating in sports
because it was meant to promote longevity and healthy living.

He
said that some former athletes in the Diaspora were already indicating interest
to participate in the event.

“We
are looking forward to more athletes participating; those in Europe and the
Caribbean have also shown interest because their names made the country when
they were in sport,’’ he said.

He
said that participants would cater for themselves because the championships
lacked the needed sponsorship and expressed the hope that sponsors would help
to fund it.