The Ghana Athletics Association has recognised and awarded the Millennium Marathon a GOLD Status for its commitment and continued focus on ensuring first-class organisation and professionalism over the years.
This is the milestone in preparing for a World Athletics Label Road Race. Road Race Labels are assessed and awarded each year by world Athletics. Race organizers have to apply to the World Athletics for recognition and show that their race can meet a number of criteria. The criteria vary for the different levels; Gold Labels have the strictest requirements, followed by Silver, then Bronze.
All three categories require what the World Athletics describe as an international elite field, that requires at least five nations (four for Bronze) to be represented by runners with times faster than the World Athletics guidelines. Additionally, the racecourse must be closed to vehicular traffic and measured to the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) standard, with full electronic timing used to generate the results. The race must be organized in a way that minimizes ecological damage to the surrounding areas.
A specified number of doping tests must be carried out, and prize money for the participants should be equal, irrespective of gender or nationality, though additional rewards can be given to runners from the host nation.
Good initiative. Ghana needs agile youth for development. Marathon is a way of challenging ones capabilities after days of jogging times