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Accra metropolis would host the first major international marathon race which would attract over15,000 local and international runners.

     The event sponsored by Millennium Marathon Sports Limited from Ethiopia, with support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ethiopian Embassy in Ghana, would be launched on March 10, 2015.

     Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive made this known to the Ghana News Agency Sports in Accra.

     He said the race would start from the Independence Square through the La Beach road, Burma Camp, National Theatre, Ridge, Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and back to the finishing line at the Independence Square.

     “The course will be one of the fastest marathons in Africa, because of the short distance of the race and would make it ideal and popular for world champions like Haile Gebrselassie from Ethiopia and for those wishing to take part in the New York and Boston marathons in the United States,” he said.

     Dr Vanderpuije said the marathon race would be an annual world class sports and tourists’ event in Ghana to create fun and healthy events among families and communities while raising money for charity.

     He expressed happiness of the positive economic benefits that the local economy and businesses would derive from the Millennium Marathon and the international exposure that the country would get as the event attracts live international media coverage.

     “In a bid to develop world class runners in Ghana to compete better in the Olympics and international running tournaments, training camps will be setup for sports enthusiasts to enroll and to boost the sports regimen in our young and future runners.”

     The Accra Mayor said the marathon would also promote healthy living lifestyles to avoid diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart attacks and strokes.

     He said the host company; Millennium Marathon Sports Limited has invited cultural groups from Ethiopia to perform alongside local ones to welcome runners.

     Dr Vanderpuije used the occasion to invite Ghanaians to lineup the street of Accra to cheer on the runners till the grand entrance at the final end at the Independence Square.