Okowa wants bigger Warri-Effurun Peace marathon

Delta State Sports Commission chairman, Tony Okowa has called on the organizers of the Warri-Effurun Peace Marathon to expand the scope of the race to attract more participation.

The second edition of the event meant to promote peace and friendship in the Niger Delta, will hold tomorrow in Warri, with over 1000 athletes from across the country ready to vie for the top prizes at stake.

For the first time, national elite runners and special sports athletes will participate in the 10km race, which has a top prize of N300, 000.

A N100,000 first prize is on offer for the athletes within the locality.

“It is my belief that the Warri-Effurun Peace Marathon has potentials to be a big event, if the organizers can put in more efforts,” Okowa said. “It will be a good thing to see athletes emerging from this race to rival the ever present Kenyan and Ethiopian runners,” he added.

The race promoter, Mrs. Joyce Bozimo submitted that because of budget constraints, some novel ideas for the second edition had to be dropped.

“Of course there are plans to make it a full blown marathon, but because of limited resources we have to take measures. But despite the pressure we admitted the national elite runners and special sports athletes.

“We are looking forward to the era where there will be sponsors coming on board to join in our efforts,” she stated.