World Mountain  Running Association (WMRA) president, Bruno Gozzelino stated that the Obudu Ranch Resort, venue of the annual Obudu international mountain race is good enough to host the World Championships.

The WMRA president is also convinced that the organisers of the race in Nigeria have also shown a mastery of the sport and only a few logistics in terms of travel and the terrain would only be improved upon.

“I strongly believe that the Obudu Ranch Resort has a good chance of staging the biggest competition in our calendar,  the world mountain running championships.

“In my opinion only two areas needed to be adjusted for the competition to come to Nigeria and they are the travel arrangements for participants and the terrain of the Ranch. In terms of travel, I think the Local Organising Committee for the international mountain race has been doing a perfect job. What the WMRA will only require is a guarantee and days for accommodation increased to at least five days.

“As you all know, a world championships involves a minimum of 500 people around the world and that is only speaking about athletes and coaches. We still have the fans,the media and the invited guests,” said Gozzelino.

He also congratulated the governor of Cross River state, Senator Liyel Imoke who was conferred with the  Commander of the Niger (CON) award  by President Goodluck Jonathan early in week in Abuja.

“I am not surprised that Governor Imoke was given a national honour by the president of Nigeria. I have worked with him for over three years now and I know that he is a great man, a man of vision who thinks beyond the present’, said Gozzelino from his base in Italy.

The race covers a distance of 11 kilometres uphill to an altitude of 1,575 metres above sea level, taking you to one of the finest tourist destinations in the world, the Obudu Mountain Resort.