Onyali, Onyedum lead Olympic Day Run celebration in Anambra
A veteran Olympian, Mary Onyali, on Saturday, led some members of the sporting family to celebrate the Olympic-Day-Run in Awka, the Anambra capital.
The Roadshow took off from the popular Aroma junction and terminated at the Alex Ekwueme Square.
Chairman of Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Patrick-Estate Onyedum, and members of his staff, were also on parade.
In a remark after the road work and some aerobic displays, Mary Onyali said the day was a special one for Olympics, Olympians, and the founder of the Olympics.
The veteran sprinter said the message was that the Olympic spirit was genuine, peaceful and people do not need to win a medal to be an Olympian.
She explained that the Olympic-Day-Run which coincides with the closing ceremony of the Anambra School Sports Festival, was an indication that the state was in tune with the rest of the world, and expressed hope that new Olympians will be born in the state.
Onyali said, “All of us are Olympians, whether you participated or not, it is also a day to tell the world to work on their body for the sake of their health because health is wealth.
“The return of Anambra School Sports Festival shows we are getting it right again, and that the festival is ending on the day we are having the Olympic-Day-Run means Anambra is in tune with the rest of the world,
“Anambra has always been ahead in sports, we have so many world champions coming from here, I hope more Olympians will be born in Anambra, myself, Uchenna Emedolu and others have laid the foundation, I plead that the governor continues to support the sector”.
Speaking also, Chairman of the State’s Sports Commission, Onyedum, said Anambra was happy to join the rest of the world to celebrate the Olympic movement.
Onyedum, who is member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee Sports and Environment Commission intimated that the vision of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo administration was to give every talented child the opportunity to rise to the world stage by providing the necessary environment.
He said the School Sports Festival which would rounded off after five weeks of intense competition, was one of such platforms, adding that a good number of the students had shown great promise.
According to Oyedum, “Olympics is about peace, it is about love, it is about unity and Anambra is glad to be part of this celebration.
“I want to thank the governor for supporting sports, this year’s edition of the festival which he brought back after more than 10 years is ending on a day we are celebrating Olympic spirit, so the message is clear; Anambra people are Olympians,” he said.
In a message, International Olympic Committee said the Piarre de Coubertin found the Olympic out of the desire to make the world a better place.
The message which was delivered by Patrick Ibeh, member of NOC Sports for All Commission said it kept body and mind healthy and strong.
He said, “When we do sports, it inspires us to always give it our best, makes us dream, spreads joy and brings us together”.
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