More athletes from different parts of the world are expected to take part in the 4th edition of the Sfax Marathon International Olive Trees as the fast growing marathon race has been listed among the Certified Marathon Courses in 2015.
With the listing of the [link id=”268″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Sfax Marathon”], the annual Tunisian marathon event has now join the exclusive list of qualifying races for the [link id=”315″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Rio 2016″] Olympic Games.
Naamen Bouhamed, the chief organiser for the Sfax Marathon told AthleticsAfrica that the listing by the [link id=”175″ tax=”post_tag” text=”IAAF”] is a good advertisement for the race even as the organisers hope for more sponsorship from the corporate world.
“It’s very hard here in [link id=”816″ tax=”category” text=”Tunisia”] and the sponsors are very few for now,” said Mr Bouhamed.
“It’s new and it takes time to get some high sponsor but we should work on long term approach.”
Despite the rough terrain and challenges being faced in putting up a world class show each year, Bouhamed said he was excited with the increased awareness and entries the Sfax marathon enjoy with every passing year.
“We are getting better. This year it’s very incredible we have received quite a lot of demand of visa from [link id=”82″ tax=”category” text=”Ethiopia”] and [link id=”81″ tax=”category” text=”Kenya”],” he explained.
Bouhamed, who is the CEO of Event’s Mediterranean Sfax-Tunisia MBCI, revealed that the target for him and his colleagues is to ensure that a World Record is set on African soil in one to three years’ time.
According to officials, the 4th edition of the Sfax Marathon International Olive Trees will be a 100% green running event.
The running athletes will be surrounded by 600 hectares of olive trees in the heart of the Tunisian olives production.
“This race aims to bring together history and men. It also aspires to play its role in the future of new Tunisia,” Naamen Bouhamed concluded.
Meet The Authors
Mr Eludini is a Nigerian-based journalist and news researcher with a passion for athletics and football. Tunde is a staff reporter for Premium Times newspaper, and also a regular contributor to AthleticsAfrica.
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