Okpekpe Race Granted AIMS Membership
Becomes first road race in Nigeria to be recognised by the prestigious body
The Okpekpe International 10km Road Race has been granted full membership of Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).
A statement from AIMS and signed by its President, Paco Baroa, congratulated promoter of the Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor, for meeting all its requirements to become the latest member of the elite association.
“I am pleased to inform you that your application for Okpekpe International 10km Road Race to become an AIMS Full member has been accepted, effective in 2017. I wish you and your team a great success for your race and hope that our Association will be an important contributor,” observed the statement from AIMS.
Spokesman for the Okpekpe international 10km road race, Dare Esan, said the organisers of the first and only International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) label race in Nigeria and one of only two in the African continent last year after the Cape Town Marathon are thrilled by this latest honour.
“We are delighted to be a full member of AIMS, an association of over 400 road races in over 100 countries and recognised by the IAAF,” said Esan in a statement.
“Okpekpe international 10km road race is now the only road race in Nigeria to be measured by a certified AIMS/IAAF course measurer.
One of the conditions that must be fulfilled before a race can retain its IAAF label status is that the race course must be measured to AIMS standard. This we have complied with among other stringent conditions,” further said Esan who revealed that the Okpekpe race will now benefit fully from the objectives of AIMS one of which is to exchange information, knowledge and expertise among members of the association.
Esan revealed that any record or world best set at the Okpekpe road race from this year will be accepted by the IAAF and AIMS because the race course was measured by an accredited AIMS/IAAF course measurer.
The fifth edition of the race will hold on Saturday, May 13 in Okpekpe, a town in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. It is located about 25 kilometres northeast of Auchi.
The race is organised by Pamodzi Sports Marketing, leaders in sports marketing and hospitality business in Nigeria.