Gladiators Cycling club based in Accra have officially launched the “osagyefo criterium race” 2022 dubbed “Dare to Achieve”.
The launch which took place at the Alisa Hotel had in its package the new logo launch, race details, Jersey unveiling and prize categories for the one day wheelie fiesta.
The one day criterium rolls on the 21st September, 2022 with online registration and payment starting from the 1st August to 9th September,2022.
It will involve a distance of approximately 140km in a predictable gruelling circuit at the peripheral road oval beginning at the Accra sports stadium.
The Race Director of the Gladiators Cycling club, Mr. CHARLES HANSEN -QUAO launched the official logo of the Osagyefo criterium with an explainable beauty of the new logo which comes along with a philosophical symbolism of the iconic Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, further representing sports on the global level. The logo features a distinct silhouette of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah,a star, the African map and the national colours of Ghana.
Chief Gladiator, and Founder of the Gladiators Cycling club, Mr. Kojo Graham was highly optimistic of a better output and performance index in the upcoming event. He espoused the significance of the launch which hinged on the exploits of the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah- who used Sports to unify the country.
Mr. Kojo Graham mentioned that the Gladiators Cycling club is a private promoter of the annual event. He further explained that “it is a private recreational Cycling club promoting Cycling as a way of life “. ” The club offers room for social integration where we have lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, mechanics who together come together to form a classless society to promote the sport “- he added.
The lead Gladiator again mentioned in his address that the Gladiators Cycling club had chalked a few successes including the Last Mile To School -LAMISI initiative developing a relationship with the Ghana Education Service to provide bicycles for school children citing example in the Tolon District and Ghana By Bike (GBB) is also developing grassroot Cycling to promote local tourism.
Gladiators Cycling club has adopted the DIVA initiative which targets female participation in Cycling, with an empirical example being the university of Ghana campus where the movement of vehicles are minimal and so would encourage the use of bicycles for lectures.
Gladiators Cycling club also embarks on the Global Biking Initiative (GBI) where they participate in European Tours to raise funds to support such cause.
Mr. Graham further believed osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah’s effort for the country could be further sustained through the organization of sporting activities such as Cycling with the primary objective of fostering unity.
He concluded by adding “in future more Cycling clubs in Africa will participate in the competition”.
Technical Director and representative from the Ghana Cycling Federation, Shaaban Mohammed commended Mr. Kojo Graham and his charges for a wonderful organization done within a small space of time after affiliating with the Ghana Cycling Federation.
“You have added more value to the Ghana Cycling Federation. If the one day event could be extended to a 3 day Tour ,it will be wonderful”- Shaaban added.
Mr. Charles Hanson Quao also shared the race details modelling the science of the race and prizes were outdoored. A total pool of $10,000 has been injected into the race with cash prizes going for the first ten cyclists for both males and females who cross the finish line.
Top 20 cyclists would be beneficiaries of the model jerseys launched.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Kojo Graham thanked all and sundry for attending the program and admonished the media to promote the ideals that Osagyefo stands for and how Gladiators Cycling club is using Cycling to establish same.
Mr. Graham mentioned that Cycling is “an ageless activity” and that the upcoming race, would be seen as a twin vision that bears resemblance to the economic, political and social integration that we are seeking to achieve through Sports.
The Ghana Cycling Federation has fully sanctioned the annual Osagyefo criterium race and the second edition of the criterium battle promises to be a lifeline ambition for the cyclists in question who are “daring to achieve” the ultimate dream of winning the Jersey.
Dennis Kweku Moore
Cycling Writer/ commentator
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