International Schools Athletics Championship excites Udo-Obong

By Ifeanyi Eduzor

Ex-Olympian and organiser of the on-going maiden international schools athletics championship, Aniefiok Udo- Obong has expressed satisfaction with the turnout of schools at the event; saying its a sign of new beginning for athletics development in the country.
As the tournament enters the last day today at the Main Bowl of Teslim Balogun, Stadium, Surulere, Lagos with a total of 916 students from 60 schools from within and outside Nigeria participating, the Sydney 2000 Olympics Gold medalists said it exceeded his expectation.
” I’m highly impressed with the attendance to this event and the interest it generated among the students, parents and various schools which is an indication that we’ll achieve our objective which is catching them young and developing promising athletes from schools.
” All together, we have students from all over Nigeria such as Lagos, Benin, Jos, Kaduna and Ghana participating. The enthusiasm and spirit of competitiveness among them is equally high which gives me joy”, he said.
He explained that in order not to give undue advantage to any athlete, they where divided into various age brackets which gives them confidence.
“You know this event is for children who are from ages 6-16 and everybody must run in his age bracket. They have been divided into ages 6-7, 8-10, U-13, U-15 and U-17 and this has increased their self confidence and spirit of competitiveness”.
Udo- Obong while expressing confidence that subsequent editions will be more attractive was full of praise to the sponsors just as he appealed for more sponsorship to enable him achieve the full goal of bringing the country back to its leadership position in athletics..
” My appreciation goes to our sponsors such as GIG Motors, Allianz Insurance, Biggi Foods, Lacaserra, Mangonet and Bic. You know it’s not easy getting sponsors in the first edition of any tournament. So, I’m happy they identified with us and am appealing for more corporate organisations to identify with us as we plan to make the next edition more glamorous”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare is expected to declare the event closed today.