Ahead of the upcoming 2024 Dynamic Athletics Meet, project strategist, Olabanji Ayegbusi has explained the motive and inspiration behind his intention to organise what would be the 1st Athletics event of the year.
The one-day Dynamic Athletics Outdoor Meet is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 27th January 2024 at the Nigeria Navy Sports Complex, Ojo Lagos State.
Speaking exclusively to www.aclsports.com, Ayegbusi explained that his motivation and inspiration was borne out of the strong passion he has for Athletics adding that he has always been a strong fan of track and field.
“My motivation and inspiration come from the strong passion I have for athletics. I’m a fan of track and field in Nigeria. I have successfully completed two academic qualifications in sports last year, one was a two-year program in sports management and the other was a certificate in Athletics coaching course which lasted 3 months, both in (NIS).
“While I was writing my final exams in sports management, I began asking myself a series of questions regarding where I would add value in the sport, and then the inspiration for establishing my own sports management company dropped.
“One day, I jokingly told Coach Femi Daramola and David Sule of my intention to organise the competition. God continued to use them and other people to remind me he has commissioned something into my hands, and it must not fail. That’s how I began drafting letters, reading books on events, and consulting stakeholders in sports.
“I reached out to the Secretary General of the AFN, and she referred me to other members of the Federation. AFN started giving me every necessary cooperation and support I needed. We thank God it’s becoming a reality,” he explained.
Speaking of what he hopes to achieve with the Dynamic Athletics Meet, he said, “My target is to use this competition to create a level playing ground, fair play, and unifying ground for athletes to express their skills. Developing a sporting business oriented with wide Media attention, and breaking new ground for sports and our company.
“In the next edition, we intend to bring star athletes to compete in our Meet, athletes like Sha’Carri Richardson. Yes, “Sha’Carri” I’m one of her biggest fans in the world and that will happen by God’s grace.
On the criteria and events which the athletes would be participating in he explained that “The Meet is an open athletics meet; both elite and amateur athletes are open to compete.
“The advantage it has for the elite athletes is that it creates an avenue for them to hit the Games standards, season’s opening mark and also to assess their preparation ahead of the African Games while the amateur athletes can use it to hit the world junior standard, assessing their preparation ahead of the National competitions and also know their season’s opening mark and personal records.
“We have all the four throw events in this meet, Long and Triple Jump. The 60m Invitational is for the elite athletes who might want to use it as a preparatory phase for the World Athletics Indoors Championships coming up on the 1st to 3rd March this year.
“We also have 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m. We are still looking forward to adding the hurdles events; 10pmh, 110mh, and 400mh. We are currently considering the logistics associated with these events and considering our available resources. We are trusting athletics families to show us support. It’s beyond just Dynamic Athletics Meet because we are all stakeholders in this competition.
On getting sponsors for the event, he said, “It has not been easy, I believe sponsors are looking for credibility, reputation, and trust. That’s part of the objectives for Dynamic Athletics Outdoor Meet 2024.
“You have to trust people enough to commit resources to them and be patient as results come slowly. There must be value in exchange for their resources. In all, sports icons have been coming up to sponsor cash prizes of their preferred events. Some friends, families, and brands have committed one thing and another. We are still awaiting responses for some letters we pushed forward.
“Largely enough, my personal resources have gone to the event 70 per cent. It’s God’s event. As I said earlier, this Meet is not a Dynamic Athletics Meet; I am calling on stakeholders to come together and show love for the success of this Meet,” he concluded.
