The next MTN Marathon can be better
OPINION<br><b>By Louis Jadwong</b><br>RACE number 17262<br><br>THERE is no doubt that the MTN Kampala Marathon is destined to be one of Africa’s leading sports events and is bigger and more exciting than before. As athletics chief Dan Tamwesigire sa
OPINION
By Louis Jadwong
RACE number 17262
THERE is no doubt that the MTN Kampala Marathon is destined to be one of Africa’s leading sports events and is bigger and more exciting than before. As athletics chief Dan Tamwesigire said, the event is also clear testimony of how corporate responsibility is essential for the development and growth of communities.
There however remain several blind spots for the organisers. It will require the Uganda Amateur Athletics Federation (UAF) to pay attention to several issues if the marathon is to get the international status they crave for.
Technically, UAF needs to emphasise to their co-organisers professionalism at the end and start of the race plus look seriously into how much of the race route can be shared between the 10km runners, the 21km and the marathoners. A clear distinction of the different categories would also help.
The marathon runners in particular need preferential treatment, for it is their event that will eventually be used to equate Kampala to the Boston and Chicago Marathons. One could only sympathise with a 42km runner trying to finish by racing past a crowd of walking 10km “runners’ on the Lugogo By Pass, Prince Charles Drive all the way to Kololo.
The ugliest scene at the finish of the marathon at Kololo Airstrip was however that of overwhelmed volunteers throwing water bottles into the crowds as runners scrambled for them. Those who could not fight for what was supposed to be a small token prize for finishing and handing back the chip, walked home empty handed. That should never happen again at a prestigious MTN event.
By Louis Jadwong
RACE number 17262
THERE is no doubt that the MTN Kampala Marathon is destined to be one of Africa’s leading sports events and is bigger and more exciting than before. As athletics chief Dan Tamwesigire said, the event is also clear testimony of how corporate responsibility is essential for the development and growth of communities.
There however remain several blind spots for the organisers. It will require the Uganda Amateur Athletics Federation (UAF) to pay attention to several issues if the marathon is to get the international status they crave for.
Technically, UAF needs to emphasise to their co-organisers professionalism at the end and start of the race plus look seriously into how much of the race route can be shared between the 10km runners, the 21km and the marathoners. A clear distinction of the different categories would also help.
The marathon runners in particular need preferential treatment, for it is their event that will eventually be used to equate Kampala to the Boston and Chicago Marathons. One could only sympathise with a 42km runner trying to finish by racing past a crowd of walking 10km “runners’ on the Lugogo By Pass, Prince Charles Drive all the way to Kololo.
The ugliest scene at the finish of the marathon at Kololo Airstrip was however that of overwhelmed volunteers throwing water bottles into the crowds as runners scrambled for them. Those who could not fight for what was supposed to be a small token prize for finishing and handing back the chip, walked home empty handed. That should never happen again at a prestigious MTN event.