At least 250 elite athletes are expected to participate in the 21km Governor Douye Diri Marathon on Saturday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

Igbeta Odonkumo, the event’s initiator, stated this on Tuesday while addressing members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Bayelsa chapter.

Mr Odonkumo said the event would feature the elite and the teen categories, where the men’s and women’s event winners would smile home with N500,000 each.

He said 50 secondary school students in Bayelsa would compete in the teen category of the event.

”We will also have those who will be running for leisure in a five-kilometre race from Otiotio junction in Yenagoa to Peace Park, Opposite Government House,” he stated.

He said school bags would be handed to the 50 participating school athletes courtesy of the Gloria Diri Foundation.

The initiator said the 21-kilometre elite category would start at 7:00 a.m. at the Glory Drive, behind Akenfa junction in Yenagoa, and terminate at the Peace Park, opposite Government House.

Mr Odonkumo, the chairman of the Bayelsa Marathon Club, said Mr Diri will lead a cast of government officials and dignitaries to grace the event.

He solicited the support of Sports Journalists to give adequate publicity to the event.

(NAN)