COVID-19: Lagos Marathon Organisers Reduce Participants

The organisers of the annual Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have announced two major changes to the 2021 edition of the Silver Label race, with the first being that only 10,000 runners from across the world would participate.
The organisers also suspended the 10km race which has always been the crowd-puller since it was introduced into the Lagos Marathon.
The race consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Nilayo Sports Management Company, Bukola Olopade, explained on Friday in Lagos that the reduction in the number of participants was in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The drastic reduction in the number of runners was in adherence to safety COVID-19 protocols.
“The measure is put in place by the World Athletics, Presidential Task Force, Sports Ministry and other relevant bodies to checkmate the further spread of COVID-19 in the country,’’ he said in a statement.
He added “We’ve stepped back to take a breather and ensure that all strategies are put in place to have a race that would fit the protocols put together by the World Athletics, PTF, Ministry of Youth and Sports.
“At the end of the day, we do not want to put brands and even the state in trouble. I can say now that we have mapped out our strategies and ready to deliver a safe race.
“Outside the reduction of runners to 10,000, the 10km race which has always been the crowd-puller since it was introduced into the Lagos Marathon has also been suspended from the 2021 race.