General Questions
Participants: individuals or groups interested in running either the 42km full marathon or the 5km fun run. Registration for all is free. Applicant is required to be physically fit.
Vendors: Businesses or individuals who provide goods or services willing to showcase at the 5-day marathon Expo. This is to encourage local businesses and create a carnival like atmosphere for commerce and entertainment. Examples include food vendors, equipment rental companies, or promotional material suppliers, fashion and accessories, etc.
Volunteers: individuals who willingly offer their time and expertise to assist with organizing and supporting as ad-hoc staff. These group will he trained by industry professionals, and a token remuneration will be paid for their time and service.
The race is called Rivers International Marathon (RIM).
It is a strategic alliance being promoted by the Rivers state government, Arch Raphael Limited and Corporate Nigeria. His Excellency Sir. Siminalayi Fubara the Executive governor of Rivers State is the main promoter of the alliance
Mr. Femi Abegunde and his team are the Project Consultants. Rivers international marathon is the first full certified international marathon in Rivers state.
The theme for the maiden edition of the Rivers International Marathon (RIM) is “RUN RIVERS BEYOND CRUDE.”
The Rivers International Marathon (RIM) seeks to be the platform that everyone looks forward to, drawing runners, the global media and tourists from all over the globe to witness a world-class event in Nigeria.
Rivers International Marathon (RIM) is to project Port Harcourt as a contemporary first class city and tourism destination to the world.
The cream of the society from the State Governor, Legislators, Diplomats, Business Executives, Sports Stars, Entertainment Celebrities and others will be at the Start and the Finish Point.
The Government and people of Rivers are enthusiastic that Rivers international marathon will soon be ranked as a notable marathon hub globally. Positioning Rivers state as a destination for Sports, Tourism, Commerce, Entertainment and Social Development.
His Excellency believes the influx of tourists to Port Harcourt will boost the Rivers indigenous art and craft industry.
Beyond positive city branding, The Governor sees the following as direct beneficiaries from the positive economic impact of the International Marathon: Printers, Event Planners, Security Companies, Food Vendors, Fashion Designers, Hoteliers, and others
As part of the plan to use the race to engage and empower the youth, the Rivers International Marathon (RIM) Theme Song will be derived from a competition among youths and a handsome prize awaits the winner.
The race will engage 2000 residents of Rivers as volunteers.
All volunteers will get a Certificate of Commendation to be signed by the secretary to the state government.
From the race, Rivers intends to build a volunteer data base that could be called on for other world class events that Rivers will host in the nearest future. Lead up activities includes but is not limited to race endorsements, press conferences, Marathon Expo, media tours, endorsements by VIPs, diplomats and top government officials and others
Equally cheering is the interest our marathon is generating across the world. We have received several mails from individuals and corporate bodies who want to compete or partner with us.
Rivers International Marathon (RIM) will be driven by Corporate Nigeria, several blue chip companies are eager to partner with us.
Port Harcourt, a beautiful city with excellent road network deserves an international marathon that will showcase her beauty to the world.
Rivers International Marathon (RIM) will give new and exciting experience to all categories of runners irrespective of their status, from the fun runners to the international elite runners.
The race day is June 1, 2024.
There will be two races: A Full Marathon and a 5km Fun Run.
Start time for Full Marathon: 7.00am.
Start time for 5km Fun Race: 10.00 am.
Start time for 5km Fun Race: 10.00 am.
Start Point for 5km Fun Run: TBD
Finish Point for both races: Stadium.
Cut off time for Full Marathon: 7 hours.
Expected Runners for Full Marathon: 5,000
Expected Runners for 5km Fun Run: 10,000.
Number of Foreign Elites: 80.
Number of Nigeria Elites: 120.
Finish Point will be designed to global standard and the biggest artists and comedians in Nigeria will be invited to entertain runners and spectators.
Runners’ Pack: All accredited runners will get a runners’ pack which will include the following; Running Vest, Goodie Bag, Transpondant Chip, Running Bib and Certificates of Participation.
Collection of Runners’ Pack: Runners will pick up their pack at the 5 days Marathon Expo.
The Marathon Expo will hold at TBD
The theme of the Expo is COMMERCE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Busy executives and others who cannot come to the Marathon Expo can send a representative to collect their Runners’ Pack on their behalf.
The representative must come with a letter of authority and a photocopy of their accreditation slip.
Rivers international marathon(RIM) aims to become a qualifier for the Olympics Games, World Athletics Championships, and the Abbott World Marathon Majors (Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago Tokyo and New York City), within three years.
To achieve the above, 80% of the elite runners that will be officially invited for the race will be Silver Label Runners.
Temperature: Low:-20, High:-28 degree centigrade.
Drinking water station: There will be water stations at the following StartPoint,km3, km5, km7.5,km10,km12.5,km15,km17.5,km20,km22.5, km25, km27.5, km30,km32.5,km35,km38.5,km41 and Finish Point.
Refreshment: There will be refreshment at the following points. km5, km10, km15, km20, km25, km30, km35, km40, and Finish Point.
Sponges: There will be sponges at the following points.km7.5, km12.5,km17.5, km22.5, km27.5, km32.5, km31, km37.
Toilets: There will be toilets at following kilometers.km10, km21, km35, Finish Point.
Medical and ambulance points: There will be ambulances at the following kilometers.km10, km13, km19, km28, km38.5, and Finish Point.
Medical aid point: There will be medical aid point for runners at following kilometers.km5, km10, km15, km20, km25, km30, km35, and km40.
Routes Tours: There will be route tour for elite runners, media partners, especially broadcasters.
To encourage Nigerians to embrace the culture of running, we have robust prize money for Nigerian winners and the 5 km Fun Run winners.
Race will be organized in accordance with World Athletics and Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) rules and regulations.
The technical partners Rivers International Marathon (RIM) are World Athletics, AIMS, AFN and Rivers Athletics.
Two hundred technical officials will officiate at the race
International delegates for the race shall be from World Athletics, AIMS, Confederation of African Athletics and AFN.
While registration for Rivers International Marathon (RIM) is free, organizers reserve the right of entry. An applicant may be denied registration by the the organizers.
World class pacers have been contacted for the race. Three for men, three for women to enable us achieve our dream of sub 2 hours 10 minutes in the men’s race and sub 2 hours 25 minutes in the women’s race.
They will also get an all gloss educative, entertaining and informative official brochure.
MYLAP of Holland, the timing company used by World Athletics for major championships, will be the Official Timer for Rivers International Marathon (RIM)
Norrie Williamson, a World Athletics/ Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) grade A measurer that measured and calibrated the routes of four Olympic Games Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and other iconic races around the globe will measure and calibrate Rivers International Marathon (RIM) route.
Since there will be total and partial closure of some parts of Port Harcourt on race day, our route education plan will be released early so that people can plan their movement on race day.
Road closure is part of requirement for label races
There will be robust brand communication campaign to encourage residents to come out and cheer the runners.
We urge our celebrities in the entertainment industry to partner with us and promote our marathon and their beloved city Port Harcourt, as their counterparts in other parts of the world do.
It is estimated that thousands of tourists from Europe, America, Africa and other parts of the world will throng Rivers for the race.
Rivers International Marathon (RIM) have zero tolerance for use of performance enhancing drugs by runners.
Runners will be randomly selected for dope test by National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
In line with World Athletics rules and regulations,winners of prize money, especially elite runners, will not be paid until result of dope test are released.
Prize money for full marathon 1st$30,000, 2nd$25,000 3rd$20,000 , 4th$15,000 5th$10,000 6th$7,500, 7th$5,000 8th$2,500, 9th$2,000,10th$1,500 (Men and women)
Nigeria prize for full marathon 1stN2million,2nd N1,5 million, 3rdN1 million, 4thN750,000.00, 5thN600,000.00 6thN500,000.00, 7thN400,000.00 8thN300,000.00 9thN200,000.00k, 10thN100,000.00 ( Men and women)
The race will be broadcasted live on satellite television, terrestrial television, radio stations and other media channels especially the social media.
Media partners need accreditation to cover the Rivers International Marathon (RIM).
There will be a world class media workstation at the Finish Point.
There will be a Media Seminar before the race.
There will be special buses to transport media partners from Start to Finish Point.
We thank the media for their unflinching support. Without the media, sports will revert to what it used to be many years ago; a mere recreational exercise.
We urge our friends to continue to be our partners in progress.