The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has said that this year’s Olympic Day Run will hold in two phases, the first coming up on June 29 in most states of the federation while the likes of  Lagos, Imo, Osun,, Oyo. Anambra and Ondo will hold theirs on July 6.

States that will hold theirs on June 29  include Bayelsa, Rivers, FCT, Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Plateau.

The Olympic Day Run is an annual event organised by the global Olympic body to celebrate the rich ideals of the Olympics.

In Nigeria, it is jointly organised by the NOC and  the Nigeria Sport For All Commission, who yesterday said that the decision to hold this year’s Run in phases was as a result of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise that will hold in some states on June 28.

A statement issued and signed by the Public Relations Officer of the NOC, Tony Ubani, urged all would-be participants in the Run to assemble at the designated points on time.

Ubani, who said that the Run was an ideal platform to highlight the benefits of physical activity which allows people to learn about Olympic values and to put them into practice in their everyday life, noted that engaging oneself in exercises promotes the healthy fitness of an individual.

“Jogging burns calories, tones muscles, shapes your body and helps checkmates stress.

“Olympic Day is a chance for people of all ages and all abilities to experience some of the magic of the Olympic Games in their own communities.

Last year, more than four million people took advantage of the opportunity to participate in the annual Olympic Day celebration which takes place around the world”, added Ubani.

He said that the Nigeria Sport For All Commission has concluded arrangement to deploy T-shirts and other logistics for the Run to ensure a successful celebration, adding that prizes were not going to be won by participants.

“The Olympic Day event is not a competition to win prizes, but to serve as a reminder that exercise holds a lot of promise in helping mankind to stay healthy through sports as a way of life”, said Ubani,.

He commended the Bank of Industry, Premier Lotto and Lagos State for donating T-shirts to mark the event.