Obaseki,Alli preach Unity,Peace As Edo Marks Olympic Day
…Over 500 young residents participate
As Nigeria joined the rest of the world on Saturday,June 29 in celebrating the Olympic Day, The Executive chairman of Oredo Local Council Dr Tom Obaseki and the Permanent Secretary of Edo State Sports Commission Dr Igbinosa Emmanuel led over 500 young men and women,including children in about 5km road race as part of the celebration of the global event in Benin city,Edo State capital.
The chairman,Oredo Local Government Council who was a special guest of Olympian Yussuf Alli,the Executive chairman of Edo State Sports Commission, flagged off the
2024 Olympic Day Run in Benin at about 8:00 AM.
The 2024 edition tagged ‘Lets Move and Celebrate” held at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium,Benin with legendary Boxer Isaac Ikhuoria(Oly) in attendance.
The runners began the 5km race from the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium through Akenzua Road; Plymouth Road, King Square(Ring Road)through Oba Market Road, Zabayor Street and rounded off the exercise at the stadium,where certificates of participation were given to the participants
Speaking at the event,the Permanent Secretary of the Edo State Sports Commission Dr Igbinosa Emmanuel who represented the chairman of the Sports Commission Olympian Yussuf Alli said that the Olympic day is significant as it is a day set aside by the International Olympic Committee,IOC to celebrate sports men and women and to encourage mass participation in sports.
” Firstly,it is marked all over the world .That is why it is under the umbrella body of the ‘Sports For All’ in IOC. So, Nigeria being a full member of the International Olympic Committee is celebrating it. And that is why the IOC wrote to Nigeria and Edo State to participate in the exercise. It is happening all over the world and we are happy that we are a part of the celebration . It helps us to create the right awareness for fitness and also to bring people together because the essence of sports is coming together so that we can move forward and celebrate according to this year’s theme’ Move and Celebrate ‘. Igbinosa emphasized.
Also speaking, the chairman of Oredo Local Government Council Dr Tom Obaseki highlighted the benefit of Olympic Day and sports as a unifying event that brings people together and promote peace and health.
” We all understand that Olympic is a unifying event that brings people together, promotes peace, statesmanship and sportsmanship. So, wherever we are we should understand that sports bring people together and in the process,we keep ourselves healthy.”
In the message of the International Olympic Committee ( IOC) ,President Thomas Bach delivered by Dr Tom Obaseki,he told the Olympic community to celebrate the joy that only sports bring to us.
The IOC president expressed the optimism that at the Paris Olympics, “the athletes will inspire us with their achievements -they will inspire the world by living our Olympic motto: Faster,Higher-Stronger-Strong together.”
*On Olympic Day,we celebrate the creation of the Olympic Movement by our founder Pierre de Coubertin. This year’s Olympic Day is a special one, taking place just ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. With the excitement building, the athletes; the fans, the entire Olympic Community around the world -all of us -we are looking forward to a new era of Olympic Games;younger,more inclusive,more urban and more sustainable.” Bach stated. #
