The National Sports Authority (NSA) yesterday launched the 2022 National Cross Country event to be held at Akyim Oda on Saturday, February 26.
This year’s edition, the fourth in the series since the competition’s return on the NSA’s calendar, will cover a distance of 10km.
It is coming after previous events held in Mpohor in 2019, Ajumako in 2020 and Sefwi Wiaso in 2021.
Launching the event which will for the first time be held in collaboration with the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) and the Ghana 2023 Africa Games Local Organising Committee (LOC), the Director General of the NSA, Prof Peter Twumasi said the event was aimed at discovering new and young talents in distance running hidden in the hinterlands.
According to the NSA boss, Ghana is considered as a force in athletics as far as short distance races were concerned but was yet to make that impact in the long distant event.
“This is the reason why we have revived the National Cross Country event. It will give the endowed athletes in the hinterland the platform to impress the selectors for the national team.”
Prof Twumasi said athletes discovered from the event will be handed over to the GAA to be groomed into top athletes as Ghana aims to make a huge impact in upcoming Commonwealth, Olympic and Africa Games.
He disclosed that athletes that excel at the Akyim Oda 2022 Cross Country event will have their prizes presented to them at the Presidency.
Highlighting on preparation so far for the event, the Deputy Director General – Technical, Mr Kwame Amponfi Jnr said the 10km route for the event has been documented and validated by a group of experts and stakeholders.
He said direction signs and other logistics needed for the event has been procured with all other stakeholders duly notified for their respective roles on the day.
According to Mr Amponfi, each region will be represented by six athletes each in the male and female categories.
In attendance, he said, would be representatives from the Ghana 2023 LOC, GAA, Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), regional representatives and traditional rulers, NSA support staff, police, medics and other identifiable groups.
Member of Parliament for the Akyim Oda Constituency, Mr Alexander Akwasi Acquah, on his part thanked the NSA for the choice of venue and indicated the region’s readiness to stage and win the event.
ANDREW NORTEY
