Okagbare, Amusan, Brume Amongst 2000 Athletes From 200 Countries For London World Athletics Championship

Oluwatobilola Amusan

A total of 2000 athletes from 200 different countries, including Nigeria, will battle for honour in the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championship holding in London from August 4 to 13.

The championships will hold at the stadium that hosted so many memorable events during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

According to IAAF Newsletter to The Guardian yesterday, athletics fans can look forward to intense competitions highlighted by head-to-head duels and record-breaking performances, scintillating sport, which will be relayed around the world to an accumulated 10-day audience of six billion viewers in more than 200 territories.

The 51st IAAF Congress will also be hosted in London. Congress begins with an opening ceremony and dinner on the evening of Tuesday, August 1, at the Great Hall, Guildhall.

“There will be two full-day working sessions (Wednesday 2/Thursday 3) at ExCel London; the first of those days is IAAF Athletics Connect, a day which is designed to inspire, inform, create discussion and provide opportunities to network,” the IAAF newsletter stated.

The 210th IAAF Council Meeting will be held on Monday July 31, at the Marriott West India Quay. In the same location on Friday August 4, as is traditional prior to every IAAF World Championships, a joint meeting will be held between the IAAF Council and the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee. The 211th IAAF Council Meeting will be held on August 31, the final day of the IAAF World Championships.

Nigeria is parading a 12-man man team in London with some athletics analysts saying that the country has bright chances of picking three medals at the games.

They are tipping female 100m hurdler, Oluwatobiloba Amusan, sprinter Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, long jumper Ese Brume and the 4x400m women team as likely contenders for medals.

While Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, who will be making her fourth competitive appearance at the championships, will compete in the 100m and long jump, Amusan, the second fastest Nigerian/African woman with a time of 12.57secs in the 100m Hurdles will be making her debut at the championshi

Source: - Gowon Akpodonor | The Guardian | July 28, 2017.