N3m Cash Prizes Await Winners In Abuja Athletics Meet

Over three million would naira be won as cash prizes in the maiden Athletes of Hope Athletics Meet which begins today in Abuja.

The competition slated for the Main Bowl of the Abuja National Stadium is opened to primary and secondary students across the FCT.Coordinator of the tournament, Mohammed Alim, said N2 million of the cash prizes would be won at the secondary school category, while the remaining N1 million would be won in the primary school category.

He said that winners in each of the 15 Track and Field events at the secondary school category would take home N40, 000 while those in the primary school category would win N20,000 each.

"Aside from the cash prizes, computers and study scholarship would also be given to some of the winners," Alim said.

The events to be competed for include 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 5,000 meters, high jump, discuss, long jump, javelin, short put and triple jump among others.

However, the primary school students were excluded from the 5,000 meters, discuss, javelin, short put and triple jump.

Alim said aside from these events, a cross country and a marathon race would also hold at the championship.He said the meet was aimed at grass root development of athletics in the FCT and beyond.

"The championship is aimed at encouraging friendship among the youth through sports as a step towards peace and unity of the country," he said.

He said the championship would also serve as an avenue for youth empowerment by encouraging the participants on sustainable living.