The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Vincent Oppong Asamoah, addressing yesterday's briefing. He is flanked by Mr Charles Wordey of NIB (left) and the Director General of the National Sports Authority, Joe Kpenge.

Millennium Marathon opens to para athletes

Kweku Zurek Athletics Jul - 12 - 2016 , 10:47

The organisers of the 2016 Millennium Marathon, Millennium Marathon Sports Limited (MMSL), have opened up a new category for paralympic athletes to allow them to participate in the race slated for September 3 at the Black Star Square in Accra.

The event, which is in its second year, previously had a 21-kilometre course for male and female athletes, as well as a five-kilometre fun run open to the public.

The decision to include para athletes, according to the management of the Millennium Marathon Sports Limited (MMSL), is to present an all-inclusive international race to help boost and create awareness for paralympic sports.

The Operations Director of the MMSL, Catherine Morton, at a press briefing yesterday said the membership of the GoGetDem Wheelchair Club alerted them to the benefits of opening up the race to all Ghanaians.

"As a result, the Millennium Marathon is not only opening up our marathon to include para athletes, but we will also offer all ordinary persons the opportunity to exercise, as well as identify their hidden athletic talents during the race."

Madam Morton added that registration for the competition had begun on the website: http://millenniummarathon.com.

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, commended MMSL for opening-up the race to all segments of society.

The major sponsors for this year's marathon include National Investment Bank, H20 Still Water, Peugeot Wats Ltd, Quieroz Galvao, Ethiopian Airlines, Total Ghana, 100 Plus, Interplast, Puma Ghana and Mohinani Group.