Organisers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon have moved the fifth edition of the 42km race from February 13 to April 10, 2021.
The project consultant, Bukola Olopade on Monday said the change in date was due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria and across the world.
“On behalf of our Host City, Lagos, our lead Sponsor, Access Bank and other partners and sponsors, we sincerely apologize for having to postpone our race in 2021 because of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic which has forced the cancellation or postponement of sporting events worldwide especially mass participation events like marathons and road races”.
According to Olopade, organizers of the Lagos Marathon were inundated with calls from Athletics Federations around the world as well as elite runners who wanted to qualify for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games in Lagos.
He explained further that the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has been approved as an Olympic Games qualifier by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and the World Athletics.
He assured that April 10 still falls within the May 31 IOC deadline to qualify for the Olympics.
Meanwhile, the number of participants has been reduced from its usual 100,000 runners to 300.
The event had over 50,000 runners at the first edition and 73,000 in the second. The number had since increased to 100,000 runners.
Olopade further disclosed that the technical and medical personnel working with the Lagos marathon organisers will determine if the 10km family and fun runners race will hold or not.
