Ogun State First Lady Flags Off 2019 Olympic Day Run

The First Lady of Ogun State, Her Excellency Mrs Bamidele Abiodun was the cynosure of all eyes on Saturday at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto Abeokuta where she flagged off this year’s Olympic Day Run, an event used to promote the practice of mass sport.

Organised under the auspices of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), the very colourful ceremony had over 200 runners and many
dignitaries including Chief Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo, the first Nigerian to win an individual Olympic medal and who also holds the Nigerian nay African record (49.10 seconds) in the 400m in attendance.

The runners competed in 3, 6 and 10km races with Her Excellency, decked in a matching blue track suit running with the kids at the event.

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Mrs Abiodun was excited about the motive for the event and revealed she was a sprinter in her teenage years while still in primary and secondary school.

Her Excellency, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State (in blue track suit with face cap), Double Olympic medallist, Chief Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo, Head of Service Engr. Bisiriyu and Benedict Majekodunmi (the Oldest Olympian in Ogun State) at the flag off of the 2019 Olympic Day Run in Abeokuta on Saturday.

“I competed in the 100, 200m and 400m and feels delighted to be here to see kids showing off their passion for sports,” said the very likeable Mrs Abiodun.

In her remarks, Chief Ogunkoya-Omotayo says Ogun state is lucky to have Mrs Abiodun who displayed an infectious passion for sports as First Lady.

The woman who ran in four consecutive IAAF World Championships 400m finals between 1995 and 2001 and remains the only Nigerian athlete to win two Olympic medals in a single edition of the Games believes youths in the state are now in safe hands as far as sports is concerned going by the passion and affection shown by Her Excellency, Mrs Abiodun at the Olympic Day
Run in Abeokuta.