Gebrselassie for Accra Millennium Marathon

Some of the best marathon runners from around the world, including the legendary Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie, will converge on Accra on September 6 for an international marathon  dubbed the Millennium Marathon.

The 21-kilometre race, which is being organised by the Millennium Marathon Sports Company with support of the Government of Ghana and other corporate partners, including the Daily Graphic, will see athletes participate in the half-marathon while members of the diplomatic corps participate in a five-kilometre race.

The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA), Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, launched the event at the Alisa Hotel in the presence of distinguished guests such as Gebrselassie, deputy Minister of Health, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe and the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare.

Speaking at the launch in Accra last Tuesday, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho of the Millennium Excellence Foundation stated that the race was part of his outfit's effort to inspire and discover new talents on the African continent.

Gebrselassie, Race Director of the half-marathon, expressed the hope that the race would motivate a lot of people to adopt healthy lifestyles.

"God gave us our hands and legs to run, but technology has made most of us inactive. Running is the key to all exercise.

"I will also urge the Ghanaian government to incorporate physical activities, at least once a day, in to school activities because kids are getting sick as a result of inactivity."

Ghana’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga, said his outfit would organise regional marathons to select and sponsor individuals to participate in the Millennium Marathon.