Bayelsa brace for 2026 international marathon

Daniel Igali. File photo

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Bayelsa State’s Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, has confirmed that preparations are underway for the state to host an international marathon in March 2026, following an assessment visit to the Abuja Half-marathon at the weekend, The PUNCH reports.

Igali said the event in Abuja offered valuable insights as Bayelsa begins work on staging its own high-level road race in Yenagoa.

He praised the half-marathon for its organisation and standard, noting that it matched what is seen at similar events globally.

“It was exciting and professionally done. It was an international half-marathon that met all standards expected of a reliable event at this level. It equalled anything that I’ve seen elsewhere in the world,” he told Sports247.

He explained that his presence in Abuja was at the instruction of the governor, as the state continues to evaluate what is required to deliver a top-class event next year.

“I am happy that Bayelsa State is looking at the possibility of hosting something like this next March. That’s why I came here to observe things on the directive of our governor. I came to see the feasibility of hosting something of this nature next year in Yenagoa,” he said.

Igali commended governor Douye Diri for prioritising sports development and for using it to unite communities and enhance the state’s reputation. “You will see such good things happening in your state when you have a forward-looking governor; someone who understands the values of sports and its importance to the human psyche as well as the society,” he said.

He added that Bayelsa will continue to strengthen its sporting profile with a busy calendar that includes the National Sports Festival in 2028 and the Governor Diri National Wrestling Classics, which begins this week with participants expected from 30 states and 12 clubs.

“We also consistently host different football tournaments. This year alone, we’ve hosted six national championships in various sports. All these confirm that Bayelsa State has become a hub of sports and, for the foreseeable future, it will continue to be so,” he said.

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