69 foreign athletes and 122 locals Register for Obudu race

The local organising committee for the annual Obudu International Mountain Race has confirmed 69 foreign athletes and 122 local athletes for the 6th edition of the race which holds later this month at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu, Cross River state.
Top on the list of athletes confirmed for the November 27 race are the women’s defending champion, Mamitu Daska from Ethiopia; reigning World Mountain running champion, Andrea Mayr of Austria who won the women’s title in 2008; and another former champion, Rehima Kedir of Ethiopia.
Also confirmed for the race is the reigning European mountain running champion, Ahmet Arslan of Turkey.
William Archibong, chairman of the LOC for the race revealed at the weekend in Calabar that registration for the event has also been closed except for African countries wishing to participate in the second African Nations Mountain Running championship, which will take place alongside the Obudu international mountain race on November 27.
“Registration for the 6th Obudu international mountain race has closed. We have been able to register 122 local athletes and 69 foreign athletes out of the over 1,500 entries we received,” said Archibong.
“It was not easy to prune the number down to 69 for the foreign athletes but we had to do it because we wanted a number we can conveniently cope with bearing in mind that registration for the African Nations mountain running championships is still on with the Athletic Federation of Nigeria,” he said adding that the LOC registered the best mountain runners in the world for the race.
“The cast we will have in Obudu come November 27 is the best you can find in any mountain race anywhere in the world. This is not just the highest paying mountain race in the world, it is also one where the quality of participants is unrivalled.”
The Obudu Mountain Race covers a distance of 11 kilometres uphill, to an altitude of 1,575 metres above sea level. The Race is the highest paying Mountain Race in the world, with star prize of $50,000 for both men and women.

NSC, Unicef Develop Policy to Fight HIV/Aids in Sports

A two-year operational policy is being developed by the National Sports Commission to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS among youths who are potential athletes that would represent the country at local and international sports competitions.
Acting director of sports medicine in the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Adeyinka Aladesanmi, said during a workshop on HIV/AIDS for medical doctors under the services of the NSC said sports has become a universal language through which young men and women can be educated on the dangers of HIV/AIDS .
"Youths are more vulnerable to AIDS. You can get these young people through sports and you could engineer universal change. During competitions, many youths come to the stadium or sports venues to watch events and we can use that opportunity to get the message of AIDS across to them. This is why we want to use role models in sports, people like Mikel Obi, Kanu Nwankwo, Samuel Okon Peter, among others, to help talk to these youths and athletes on the dangers inherent in HIV/AIDS. They can influence the young people on the need to guide against these deadly diseases. We also intend to use coaches, referees and sports administrators who are in charge of teams and federation to help pass the message across by way of education".
The NSC, in collaboration with the UNICEF, who are providing the logistics and technical manpower, are identifying the platform, resources and means to effectively reach out to athletes and youths in the society.
UNICEF HIV/AIDS prevention specialist, Dr. Victoria Isiramen said there has been no plan and systematic way to fight this deadly disease by the sports commission, hence the collaboration with the NSC and NACA to use sports to reach out to the teeming youths.
"A two-year development plan to actualise this is being laid out now and the UNICEF is ready to develop the capacity and provide the needed technical support. Athletes will benefit from it. They will be better informed about what they are supposed to know and do to fight this monster".
Dr. Isiramen said all the medical personnel that attended the seminar would be available to educate athletes and youths during competitions, noting that zonal and state offices of the HIV/AIDS control would be established.
Isiramen noted that non- existence of a HIV/AIDS policy in the NSC has been responsible for the increase in the number of athletes acquiring the diseases.
The UNICEF expert identified lack of funds and strategic plan, as well as poor accessibility of facilities in sports to be responsible for the increase in HIV/AIDS spread among youths and athletes.

British Star: Nigerian Athletes Are World Beaters

Fast emerging England 800m star, Marilyn Okoro, a Nigerian born British citizen in this exclusive chat with SportsDay’s Oke Oluku, says Nigerian athletes can rule the world if properly motivated. The Human rights campaigner, Politics and French graduate from the University of Beth also speaks on her real world and other salient issues.

What attracted you to athletics and how did you become involved?

I loved all sports: lacrosse, tennis, netball. I had aspirations to be a full international lacrosse player. But in athletics, which I started when I was 12 years old, I liked the fact that I only had myself to blame if things went wrong. Athletics is also a sport that takes you all over the world. And lacrosse can be a bit dangerous.

Where do you get your sporting talent from?

I think it’s in the genes. My mum and dad are of Nigerian origin and my tribe, the Igbo, is known for being tough, which you have to be in athletics. My mum is also quite strong, but I don’t think she was a runner.

Being a Nigerian who runs for England, what do you know about Nigeria’s athletics?

Well I know little about Nigeria but with the little I have seen their athletes do during international meets, the country has great potentials in athletics. All they need do is to give the athletes the best opportunity to prove themselves on track. I have seen the Africa 100m champion, Blessing Okagbare run, I have seen Seun Adigun do the 100m huddles, I have seen Tosin Oke and these are great people who can hold their ground anywhere. So they are good.

How was your upbringing like?

I am not in any way ungrateful for the upbringing I’ve had, but it has been tough and I think that’s what has fuelled my athletics career; I use it as a focus and an outlet.

Why did you choose England Instead of Nigeria where your parents are from?

Well when it comes to that, I don’t have the choice, I started when I was 12 and it was my PE teacher that encouraged me to do athletics. I am aspiring to be a great athlete and England is where my heart is at the moment.

If called to represent Nigeria, will you change your status as a British athlete?

When that time comes, I will know what to do but like I said right now, England is my home.

Tell us about your passion for human rights

I’m not going to stand on a tall building shouting about it, but it is important because it’s one of our fundamental rights. I went to Senegal recently and saw situations there. Often it comes down to decisions taken for the benefit of governments, not the people.

You are one of a raft of quality British female 800m runners. Does this act as a huge motivation?

At first it was daunting. But I don’t want an easy ride. I’m an athlete who revels in being pushed along. I compete because I want to get the best out of myself.

What is your favorite distance?

The 800m. The 800m is just edging it at the moment, but I still love the 400m. I think I’m designed for both.

What has been your highlight to date?

The 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final. I ran my (old) PB and finished third.

What are your ambitions?

Obviously, the London Olympics are always in the back of my mind. I also hope to acquire as much experience as I can. After that there are loads of things I’d like to do.

Which parts of training do you like and which do you dislike?

I used to find it hard to find a session I absolutely dreaded. Not anymore. It has to be mile reps; the good news is I’ve survived them during the winter months. My favorite session is anything that gets my legs turning over, like 200s.

Which is the best and which is the worst part of being an athlete?

The best part is that you get to see the world. My passport is so full, and I only got it in 2004. The worst is that you don’t get to spend a lot of time with your friends and family.

Advice for upcoming athletes

No matter where they come from, they should be focus and stay off drugs.

Osazuwa Harps praises On Team Nigeria

Nigeria’s 100m and 4x100m track star, Agnes Osazuwa has attributed the feat of Team Nigeria on the just concluded X1X Commonwealth Games in India to the collective determination of the team. She told okenaijaathletics.blogsport in a chat that though it was painful to her not to win a medal, she was sure it’s all in the process of her getting to the top.

“As regards the Commonwealth Games that ended some weeks back, the determination of the Team Nigeria should really be commended because it worked for us. Though I did not win any medal and despite all that happened I give God all the praise. It was a bit painful, but I believe its all in the process of getting me to the top for greatness.”

Taking a look at Nigeria’s athletics in 2010 season, the Edo born, Oyo state and Europe base sprinter said it was not a bad outing for the country’s athletes in the junior and senior level as the team traveled to championships and made the country proud with their outings, giving instance to the country’s participation in the IAAF Junior Athletics championship in Canada, the Africa Senior Championship in Kenya, the youth Olympics in Singapore, the Continental Cup in Croatia where some of our athletes where in Team Africa, the U-23 ECOWAS Games in Abuja and the Commonwealth Games in India, she said kudos should be given to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) board, led by Solomon Ogba for giving Nigeria athletes the opportunity to participate in all the championships that took place this year while also saying sports administrators in Nigeria should put in more to assists the athletes, both foreign and local.

“I will say that 2010 has been good for Nigeria athletics so far, we have never had it so good, attending all the major championships of the year, kudos should be given to the AFN for a job well done. We had the opportunity to compete in all the championships, unlike before where they will say there is no money for such championships.

“With the commitment we have had so far, if more assistance is given to us, both foreign and local athletes, 2011 will be Nigeria’s year in athletics.”

Speaking on 2011, Osazuwa said, “By God’s grace 2011, will definitely be a year to watch, for especially with the world championships and the all African games, which is a step away from the Olympics. All been said, my training just got a bit upscale to prepare for the challenges ahead.”

Agnes Osazuwa left the shores of Nigeria for Europe on Wednesday

Emedolu Bombshell

I’m Being Victimized

Former Nigeria 400m champion, Uchenna Emedolu has refuted allegations leveled against him by the National Sports Commission (NSC) on his dropping of baton on two occasions when he was on duty for Nigeria, which led to the ban by the NSC’s Director General Dr. Patrick Ekeji,

In an exclusive chat with okanaijaathletics.blog, the Olympic bronze medalist who is heart broken with the treatment being meted on him by the NSC maintained that promises made to him by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002 when he won the World Cup are yet to be fulfilled.

The Anambra born athlete however revealed that his ordeal started when he confronted

Dr. Patrick Ekeji during the U-23 ECOWAS Games that ended recently in Abuja and asked for his 3000 dollars being the 2008 Beijing Olympics allowance.  

“It is not true I drop the relay baton in Beijing. How can I have paid my way to the games only to sabotage the team? Some of the team members of the quartet are the guys that I trained what example would I be setting for them by dropping the baton?” He asked.

According to Emedolu, asking for his 3000 dollars, allowance own him from Beijing 2008 Olympics was the reason for him being victimized by Dr. Patrick Ekeji.

“I’m heart broken with the kind of treatment being meted out to me. I have won several medals for Nigeria, and even as we are talking, the former president Olusegun Obasanjo made some promises to me in 2002 when I won the world cup in athletics, till now those promises are yet to be fulfilled.”

“It was because I asked the Director General for the 3000 dollars allowanced owed me from Beijing 2008 Olympics, that I am being victimized.

“I told him (Ekeji) to facilitate the payment during the ECOAWAS Games that Nigeria hosted recently in Abuja. He told me that I was having some issues with a panel of inquiry, concerning my role in the drop of the relay baton in Beijing 2008. I was so upset; I did not attend the awards ceremony at the ECOWAS Games. That was when he ordered that I should be banned from the national team; he withheld a 60,000 bonus given to all the coaches.”

“On my way to Abuja for the ECOWAS Games, my car somersaulted and I almost lost my life, only for me to get this kind of treatment.”

Emedolu says he has spent his personal cash training athletes like Obinna Metu,

Onyabor, Nworgu, Joy Eze and even recently worked with Ogho-Oghene Egwero who ran a personal best of 10.10 during the ECOWAS Games in Abuja and that banning him will make upcoming athletes who are working with him to suffer as it will affect their performance.

“I have spent my money training athletes like Obinna Metu, Onyabor, Nworgu and Joy Eze and even recently I worked with Ogho-Oghene Egwero, thankfully he did his personal best at the ECOWAS Games.

“For now I want to lie low and observe the situation. But if I do leave coaching Nigeria will suffer for it, this is because I have it in my mind to produce quality athletes,” he concluded.

It would be recalled that Uchenna Emedolu was banned from representing Nigeria by the National Sports Commission (NSC) for allegedly sabotaging the country’s efforts at international meets despite the sprinter having retired from the track before now.

The sprinter’s ban came, sequel to statements made by the Director General of the NSC, Patrick Ekeji during the ECOWAS Games held in Abuja recently.

He was ban after a panel indicted him of sabotage of dropping baton during exchange at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Emedolu is one of Nigeria’s fastest men of all time with a 9.97 seconds posted on home soil at the 2003 All African Games held in Abuja which ranked him sixth on the country’s fastest times list behind Olusoji Fasuba, Davidson Ezenwa, Olapade Adeniken, Francis Obikwelu and Deji Aliu.

He was a member of Nigeria’s 4x100 metres bronze winning relay team at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. But in 2008 alongside Onyeabor Ngwogu, Obinna Metu and Chinedu Oriala failed to finish their 4x100 metres relay race due to a baton dropping.

Onyali Hails Team Nigeria’s Performance In India

Former Queen of the tracks, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi has described as incredible the performance of Team Nigeria to the Commonwealth Games in India but said that the best is yet to come. “We’ve done absolutely well but we can still do better”, as she continued playing her role-model work of encouraging athletes. “You can see that there is logic in coming with a fewer sports. The fewer the better. It is unlike in the past when we come with larger contingent and go home with fewer medals. What this means is that more athletes will have to strive to get to the mark of winning medals before they can be included. It’s the same thing that happened when I was still active on the tracks. Many who admired me had to work harder to be able to dethrone me. I feel we should keep this up by encouraging the athletes and not to go to sleep. Before you know it, the Olympic Games will be knocking on the door. This is the time to keep up the tempo”, Onyali told okenaijaathletics.blogsport

Sports Ministry, NOC stands by Osayomi, says Ekeji

 After having her gold medal withdrawn due to testing positive to Methylhexamine, a banned stimulant by the Commonwealth Games Federation in India, Damola Osayomi still has the backing of the Sports Ministry/National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigerians.

Director General of the National Sports Commission, Patrick Ekeji said.

The Director, who came back to Nigeria on Wednesday afternoon told okenaijaathletics.blogsport that after he was fully briefed on the matter on Monday by the Nigeria’s chef de mission in India, Elias Gora, upon his arrival in Delhi he came to the conclusion that Osayomi could not have deliberately taken any substance to enhance her performance.

“Damola is one of our most consistent and dedicated athletes right from her days as a youth athlete. What she has taken is not an anabolic steroid, if it were, then there might have been the possibility that she was doping but as you know, what she has taken is a stimulant, which she did not take deliberately. It was administer to her as part of medication for some health challenge.

“Naturally, she is devastated by what is happening but we are standing by her. We are giving her all the support she needs and we are calling on Nigerians to be by her at a time like this. She has served Nigeria well and should not be abandoned,” Ekeji said.