Nigeria Content Online

The 6th Obudu
international mountain race scheduled for Saturday, November 27 this
year has received a huge corporate backing as the Nigerian Bottling
Company (NBC) has renewed its sponsorship deal with the the annual
showpiece event.

William Archibong, chairman of the local organising committee for the race said this in Calabar on Wednesday.

“We are delighted
to be having Coca-Cola and NBC as our partner once again. The company
has demonstrated its love for mountain running and we are really
pleased they have identified with us as we continue to provide a
platform for not only the integration of mountain running into our
sports calendar, but also the visibility of the Obudu Ranch Resort,
venue of the mountain race as an international tourist haven,” he said,
adding that Coca-Cola has identified with the race right from the very
first edition in 2005.

Bigger event

Archibong also said this year’s race will be the biggest ever since the debut event in 2005.

“This year’s event
will be bigger. We are introducing the African Mountain Running
Championship for the women to complement that of the men, which started
last year. We are already in constant touch with the President of the
World Mountain Running Association WMRA, Bruno Gozzelini and officials
of the AFN to ensure that the event is hitch-free,” he said.

The Obudu Race is
the highest paying Mountain Race in the world, with star prize of
$50,000 for both men and women. The star prize for the African Nations
Mountain Running Championship is $15,000 for both men and women teams.

Over 300 athletes will compete in the one day, two-in-one race with
the Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke expected to flag it off
with support from Bruno Gozzellino, president of the World Mountain
Running Association.