The World Athletics Council has awarded the 2022 Okpekpe International 10km Road Race an elite label ahead of its upcoming eighth edition scheduled to take place May 28, 2022, in Okpekpe.
Under the new arrangement, road races are classified as World Athletics Label, World Athletics Elite Label, and World Athletics Elite Platinum Label.
The new categorisation also impacts the ranking points available to international elite athletes, Olympics, and World Championships qualification slots offered by the highest-categorised competitions.
Okpekpe, the first road race in West Africa to be granted a World Athletics rating in 2015, is among the 93 road races across the globe and only seven in Africa to be awarded a World Athletics Elite Label.
A World Athletics Label denotes high standards in event organisation, safety and runner experience, and application of the World Athletics Rules and Regulations among other considerations.
Mike Itemuagbor, the Chief Executive Officer of Pamodzi Sports Marketing, organisers of the race, is delighted that World Athletics still rates the organisation of the race very high even after a COVID-19 induced two-year absence.
“This is great news because it is a testimony of our organisational ability and of course strict adherence to the application of the World Athletics Rules and Regulations,” he said, and thanked the Edo State government for the support given to the race and corporate Nigeria for their trust.
Itemuagbor is confident the Okpekpe Road Race will be the first in Africa to be awarded a World Athletics Elite Platinum Label.
