COVID-19: Okpekpe 10km road race cancelled six weeks to event

Oganisers of the Okpekpe international 10km Road Race has cancelled the 2020 edition of the race due to the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

The race, which is the first label road running event in West Africa, is only six weeks away, having been scheduled to hold on May 23, 2020.

Mike Itemuagbor, promoter of the race says the decision to cancel the race was a difficult one.

“We know this will disappoint many runners who have trained towards the event and tourists who have always chosen the time of the race to escape the hustle and bustle of many Nigerian cities to unwind in a serene, hilly countryside that the Okpekpe community and adjoining towns represent,” he said

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“Regrettably, with ongoing developments in Nigeria and around the world where covid-19 has ravaged so many countries, we no longer consider it safe nor responsible to go ahead with the historic event.”

This is the first cancellation in the history of the event, coming a year after it became the first silver label road race in West Africa and second in Africa.

“We sincerely hope that our runners will want to support us once this is all over and return to run in Okpekpe next year.

“We also hope our sponsors and partners will understand we are left with no choice but to cancel the race this year. We believe the wellbeing of athletes,officials and spectators, especially the good people of Okpekpe community is more important than the race itself,” Itemuagbor added

The 10km race was to hold in Okpekpe, a hilly town near Auchi, Etsako East local government area of Edo state.

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