Youth & Sports launches annual marathon
The 2014 running and walking marathon competition has been launched in Monrovia. The acting Mayor of the Monrovia City Corporation or MCC, Clara Mvogo, said the hosting of marathons attracts tourists and also enable host country showcase its best talents.
She made the statement Saturday, at the official opening of registration for the Liberia Marathon completion for 2014, held at the Monrovia City Hall. Mayor Mvogo stressed the need to prioritize the annual marathon competition because it helps to strengthen and expose young talents in the country.
She noted that the marathon will go a long way in enabling athletes to achieve their goals, while informing the gathering that the official date for this year’s marathon is August 31. According to her, the marathon will also help to put Liberia on the map as it relates to athletic competition.
Giving an overview of the competition, the Chairperson of the 2014 organizing Committee, Eunice Dahn, said the concept of hosting annual marathons in Liberia started in 2010. She said previous marathons involved about thousand runners, ranging from local and international participants, but this year’s marathon is targeting 3,000 registered runners.
Madam Dahn thanked partners for financial and other support to the process, noting that it through their efforts each year the marathon stays alive. She hoped that this year’s marathon will enable people to run and become better athletes.
For his part, the President of the Liberia Athletes Federation, Mulbah Zaza, said his organization remains a cardinal partner in ensuring that the marathon becomes a success. He also promised technical support to the process.
Youth and Sports Minister, Lenn Eugene Nagbe, said he was pleased to be part of the launch. Minister Nagbe noted that the marathon will showcase Liberia’s talents since the war and serves as a rebirthing process for the nation.
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“The country itself is going through its own rebirthing process”, he added, and congratulated the organizing committee for the level of work done, while commending partners for their support to the exercise.
