The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has increased the prize money of the 2011 All Nigeria/Cross River State Athletics Championship which commenced at the U. J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar today.
According to the AFN President, Solomon Ogba, the quality of medals to be won in the championship have been improved and its standard taken to a higher level as entertainment has been introduced to add color to it, adding that the prize money for the two categories have been increased to make it more attractive.
He explained that under the Premium category the Gold medal cash prize has been increased from N50,000 to N100,000, Silver medal from N30,000 to N50,000 and Bronze medal from N20,000 to N50,000 respectively.
And cash prizes for the Classic category will be N70,000 for Gold medalist, N50,000 for Silver and N30,000 for Bronze.
The AFN President said random doping test will be undertaken because the federation takes it seriously that athletes can do well without taking drugs and said the Cross River State Government will organize a gala for all the athletes and officials while describing these as novel ideas that were not there before and hoped it will improve next year.
“We are increasing the prize money in this year’s edition because we want to upgrade the competition to international standard and I believe all the winning athletes will smile at the end of the day.
“Also for the first time, the host state governor will be hosting athletes and officials in a gala and I hope next year’s edition will supersede this one,” he concluded.
N1 million at stake
In line with the innovation promised by the AFN in this year’s All Nigeria/Cross River Championship, the AFN has mapped out plan to present 1million naira to the all best athlete at the end of the championship.
Disclosing this on Wednesday was the Technical/Performance Director of the AFN, Sunday Bada explained that this is part of the innovative, introduced to add value to the championship.
He said a One million Naira prize will be presented to the all best athlete during the championship based on specific standards which will be given after a doping test and that the prize money could be shared if there are more than one winners.
The Nigeria Police Officer said there will also be kid athletic program to develop talents, adding that about 500 children from primary and post-primary schools in Calabar are expected to participate.