Nigeria: Warri to Host 2012 Grand Prix
Orkula Shaagee
27 January 2012
Athletics Generation of Nigeria (AFN) has revealed plans to stage this year’s Abuja Grand Prix to Warri, in Delta State.
Disclosing this at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, AFN President Chief Solomon Ogba said the Federation and the Delta State Government have concluded arrangements to stage the one day sports fiesta June 11 ahead of the June 22 date for the final list of athletes for the games.
He said the decision to move the event out of Abuja was informed by the lack of support from the FCT Administration, which has put a huge burden on the federation in the past editions of the annual event.
He explained that the Grand Prix which did not hold in the past two years as a result of lack of sponsors, has to be moved backward in order for the AFN to pick athletes for training ahead of the London Games.
“On our grand Prix, we have decided to do it earlier to June 11, instead of July and the Delta State Government has agreed to support the programme. So, we are going to move it out of Abuja because we have not gotten any support from the FCT Administration, and that is we have not done it in the past two years; and we don’t want to lose the permit. So, that event will hold in Warri on June 11.
“Now, our National Trials this year is going to be different, we Are going to run 10 heats or 12 heats. We are going to set a standard and give every opportunity to participate. Participation in the National Trials is for elites that have strong sprint and jumps tradition.
“We are not making it All-comers affairs because we are going to set a very high standard, but every athlete will have the opportunity between now and June 6 to meet the qualification.
“Our final team list will be concluded on the June 22. Those who made the qualification last year will also participate; even with better, they must compete this year to make our team because I would not want a situation where you have somebody wearing the green-white-green, then after the race you come last.
“So, I can’t go with any athletes that I know that by current standard will not make it to the semi-final in the Olympics, whether you have the A standard or not. So, it is based on current performance that we will pick our team.
“The interest of this country is bigger than any individual interest, so we are going to pick our team based on current performance”, he stated.
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Category: Warri
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