The Lion of Tiko, the Lord Mayor, HRH Peter Ikome Mesoso III was part of the Fako chiefs who gave their blessings for a successful 28th edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope today Friday February 24th at the Molyko Stadium, Buea.
The 2023 edition is coupled with the 50th anniversary of the mountain race. It has been on theme “Let’s give peace a chance”.
The Golden Jubilee edition was officially launched by Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education Prof. Narcisse Moule Kombi.
The race proper will take place tomorrow Saturday 25th February, 2023 as Orange Cameroon is the official sponsor.
So far, 13 foreign Countries have announced their intention to sent athletes to Cameroon for the race.
The athletes who will take on the 38km footrace to challenge the chariots of God are expected from Kenya, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Chad, France, Uganda, Congo, Gabon, Ethiopia, Tanzania, United States of America, Tunisia and Morocco.
The race to the summit of Mount Cameroon began in 1973. Fifty years after the 1st edition a special innovations have been added to make the celebration unique.
Former champions of the race like Amos Ndoumbe, Essoka Reginald and others have been invited to mark the 50th anniversary of the ascension of the highest point in Central Africa.
In order to make this years edition unique, the organizing committee of the competition has made some changes to the routine.
– The number of athletes has increased from 500 to 600
– Miss Mountain Race of Hope pageant has been introduced
– A sports walk with about 1000 volunteers to promote peace will take place from Mbongo square to the Molyko stadium immediately after the athletes take off for the mountain.
Mary Ndinge Lyonga is a marketing assistant at Eagle Wings and Spice Located at Mutengene, Tiko Road.
She was once a Volunteer at the Tiko Council Community Radio for a period of 3 months under the Leadership of Mme Sarah Nkongho as the Station Manager. She is a graduate from the department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Faculty of Social and Management Science, University of Buea.