Can Edo People Rise Above Primordial Sentiments For Once?

For three years on the bounce, the people of Okpekpe played host to thousands of multi nationals who throng its serene and naturally endowed communities to be part of its annual International Amateur Athletic Federation, IAAF-approved 10 kilometre road race. Over the same period of time, their expectations grew as they await the fulfillment of promises of the event’s inherent benefits, particularly in terms of physical infrastructural development. However, while they have no misgivings over general improvement about the race itself, majority of them are of the opinion that there is hardly any commensurate presence in infrastructure, including development of its tourism sites or establishment of associate industries. As findings by this writer indicate, the indigenes are very grateful to the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for opening up their community and putting it on a global map within a very short time. However, they are worried by what some of them termed “the slow pace” with which organizers are going about either the general realization of promises of infrastructural development or in particular, attracting investors to the community. As far as the people are concerned, the event will make more sense if the community is home to infrastructure that will attract steady stream of visitors or tourists all year.
In the last editions, virtually all athletes, officials and other guests were housed in hotels and guest houses located in Auchi and environs. Thus the people’s expectation is that by quickening investment atmosphere in the community with the setting up of permanent development infrastructure, particularly in the tourism sector, organizers would have succeeded in creating a more enduring legacy. In a nutshell, the people are looking forward with hope that beyond the current arrangement under which accruing economic benefits go to neighboring communities, Okpekpe will take its rightful place on the economic ladder.
At the moment however, Okpekpe will have to make do only with the marginal business opportunities at its disposal over the few hours the race lasts. That is, if the position of Hon. Suleiman Afegbua, chairman, Etsako East local government area, is anything to go by. Afegbua, who noted that organizers of the event are very aware of the need to encourage and attract investors and business concerns to the community, pointed out that delay in the provision of basic economic infrastructure in the community resulted from investors’ reservations over what will befall their investment over the period between the race. They are worried that over the long interregnum may cripple their investment irreparably if provisions are not made to create buffer opportunities.
Afegbua is of the view that there is no longer any need for worry as the issue is being addressed as according to him, the community’s fortune will take a turn for the better in the next few months. His confidence is hinged on the fact that works have begun on the Okpella/Okpekpe link road, which when completed, will open up interesting tourist sites along the axis such Okpekpe and environs will become too compelling to be ignored by investors.
That done, it is instructive to note that there are other pressing challenges to be surmounted before the 10 kilometre race becomes one of IAAF’s premium events. The first concern is how quickly it can graduate from its current bronze label through silver to gold. The real concern here is that graduation through the rank requires meeting a number of stringent measures. According to experts, IAAF takes serious exception to the presence of gun-totting security personnel in any of its organized events. If that is anything to go by, the present situation in which security personnel wore their arms like uniform calls for concern. Organizers, including the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, AFN, must take immediate action to ensure that as it is the case with other international distance races, including the Boston and London Marathons, deployed security personnel are discrete with their arms.
This writer also gathered that the IAAF takes exception to non adherence to its timing. Put differently, the global athletic body frowns at situations where its recommendation for early morning races are ignored. For the Monaco, France, based global athletic body, distance races must start as early as 7am to prevent athletes from fatigue and dehydration. Attention to this schedule is vital to avoid delays that could put the lives of the athletes in jeopardy.
Another important issue, taken very seriously by the IAAF before ranking its events, is the number of foreign athletes featured in the any particular competition. For instance, to be ranked under the bronze label, an event must attract at least, athletes from four different countries. Gladly, the Okpekpe race has won the classification and is now working on winning its silver branding. Organizers must take into account the need to expedite action on making the next grade as quickly as possible, given accruing benefits for the hosts communities.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways organizers of the race can sort out attendant challenges. For a start, they can take up the additional, not compulsory, responsibility of paying appearing fees to some of its top rate athletes until the race gathers enough presence to be self sufficient in attracting world class athletes without much difficulty. The advantage in doing this is that apart from serving as an incentive for their continuous presence, it will also encourage others into being part of the show. The advantage here is that besides spurring them to return, other athletes who fancy their chances of being winners will make themselves available in subsequent races. All of them will be very useful in spreading participation message to their friends or co athletes. The bigger benefit is that the more top rate athletes the event attracts, the better its chances are of an improved IAAF rating.
Like other top rate international athletic events, Okpekpe road race have warm up facilities for athletes. Other facilities that must be available include ambulances and trained health personnel at every two kilometres along the route and in line with global standard, a regeneration centre manned by qualified health personnel must be prioritized. As it is in Obudu Mountain race and other globally acclaimed distance races, a regeneration facility, manned by professional health officers, is a well appointed health centre with very effective air conditioning system needed to, literally cool down some of the athletes who may be victims of delayed exhaustion, characterized by epilepsy-like seizures. Affected athletes are expected to stay under observation in the facility until they are certified by doctors to be fit to go. Unless affected athletes are professionally attended to in the facility before being discharged, they may be opened to greater danger than is necessary.
Among other things, organizers must consider upping television transmission by stationing dominant camera along the route. One of the advantages is that it increases viewing audience participation as those at the starting point who may want to monitor progress of the race from the beginning to its end, the same way as others along the route and those waiting at the finishing line, are able to do so without stress. In this way, no one is left out of action or drama as the race progresses.
For now, Okpekpe 10 kilometre road race is here to stay. But even as the people of the community, the real host, are very comfortable with its presence, they are also waiting anxiously for the larger benefits-commensurate infrastructural presence.