KLM to help train Marathon winners in Kenya

Accra, July 21, GNA- Winners of this year's Accra Milo Marathon race scheduled to be held on September 26 would be taken through an intensive training programme in Kenya before they enplane to the Netherlands to participate in the Amsterdam marathon

In an interview with GNA Sports, Mr Norman Williams who represented the Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) at the launch of this year's Accra Milo Marathon said the idea is to toughen the Ghanaians to make the needed impact internationally.

He said if Ghana cannot bring the Kenyans who are internationally acclaimed marathoners down to participate in order for local athletes to learn from them, nothing should prevent Ghanaians from going to the rift-valley country to learn what makes them thick in long distance events.

Mr Williams said KLM is liasing with Kenya Airways, their partners on the African continent to make the necessary travel arrangements for the athletes to get the best of training during their stay in Kenyan, which would go a long way to help them make the needed impact internationally.

He said at this moment, details of the training programme is being worked out with their partners, but gave the assurance that the winners would be accorded an all expense training tour to build them up to win laurels.

Mr Williams said KLM is associated with excellence and would only send the best athletes who can portray a mark of their quality. KLM has for some time now sponsored the winners of the men and ladies events of the Accra Milo Marathon to Holland to participate in the annual Amsterdam marathon.

This is the first time that winners of the 42-kilometre event organised by the Dansoman Keep Fit Club would be taken outside for a training programme before they participate in the Amsterdam Marathon.

The rift valley country of Kenya is famed internationally for producing world-class long distance runners and marathoners' who have come to dominate the world stage.