Lagos City Marathon has been postponed to a later date.
The annual race, which Kenyans have dominated has been rescheduled for April 10th moving away from the February 13th in the Nigerian capital.
Race director announced through the Lagos City Marathon Project Consultant Bukola Olopade said in a statement that the race has been pushed to April “because of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.”
“On behalf of our Host City, Lagos, the Center of Excellence, our Headline Sponsor, Access Bank and other partners and sponsors, we sincerely apologize for having to postpone our race from February 13, 2021 to April 10, 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,” he said.
Olopade further said “it was agreed that the race should be moved since most organizations are on lockdown till end of February.”
“Organizers of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon were inundated with calls from Athletics Federations around the world and elite runners who wanted to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Lagos since the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has been approved as Olympic Games qualifier by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) and the World Athletics,” he said in the statement.
“Our new date of April 10 still falls within the IOC deadline. Runners have till May 31, 2021 to qualify for the Olympic Games.”