Organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have said the Silver Label race will be switch back to full capacity for its next edition billed for February 12, 2022.
This development means the event will join other elite races across the world to return as a full race with about 80,000 to 100,000 runners expected to participate in the full marathon and the 10km fun run.
This was revealed by Yussuf Alli, the General Manager, Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, in an official press statement.
The 2021 edition of the Access Bank Lagos City was an elites only race because of COVID-, with only 300 athletes participating.
Other elite races like London, Tokyo, and others were also elites only races, while many races were outrightly cancelled.
But since September 2021, label races that were elites only in 2021 or were cancelled, have returned as full races, with thousands of runners.
These include the Berlin Marathon, London Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Boston Marathon, and others.
New York Marathon is slated for November 7, while other races are slated for the latter part of the year. Early in 2022 will be the Amsterdam Marathon, Dubai Tokyo, Paris, Houston, and others.
Mr Alli revealed that the World Athletics and Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) are excited that the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will return as a full race.
“I also want to use this medium to assure our numerous runners, especially the 10km fun runners who came to our office or contacted us on phone, emails, and via our website that on February 12, 2022, we will have a full race and that it will include the 10km race. I appeal to intending runners to step up their training”.
The General Manager also said there will be a world press conference the first week of November 2021 to unveil plans for the 2022 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.
“This is our 7th edition. We are the first marathon in Nigeria to organize the 7th edition. We are also the first race to win a World Athletics Bronze Label in Africa after two editions and the first in the world to win the prestigious Silver Label after four editions.
“Last year, World Athletics gave us the Elite Road Race Label, we are one of the most sought after elite races in the world, in terms of prize money we rank among the top 10 in the world and in the number of participants we are top five in the world, I could go and on.
“To achieve all these before our seventh edition calls for celebration and the celebration is not just for staff, sponsors and vendors but for the media and thousands of runners that love and throng our race,” added Mr Alli.
