721 athletes from within and outside Cameroon are awaited in Buea this Saturday.

According to the report of the organising committee of the 2016 edition of the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race of hope attest to the fact everything is now ready for the kick off of the race. This was the major outcome of the last preparatory meeting which took place on Tuesday at the conference room of the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education.

“The race course has been mapped out, the final list of athletes to take part in the competition published, hostesses trained and funds disbursements to enable the various committees go operational”, said Emmanuel Mbome Motomby, president of the Cameroon athletics federation.

The representative of Guinness the official sponsor of the event said the esplanade of the Molyko stadium is ready, canopies set up, jerseys and branding gadgets made available. Presiding at the meeting in the place of the minister, the secretary general of the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, Tado Oumarou recommended the facilitation of the entry into the country of foreign delegations taking part in the competition to avoid the embarrassment of foreigners like last year when the Kenyan delegation was blocked at the airport in doula for visa problems.

He also stressed on the security aspect of the event to be taken seriously given the prevailing context and urged organisers to works towards boosting the image of the country. It was disclosed that about 70 media houses will be covering the event which will be broadcast live on national television and another private TV Station.

It is worthy to note that the 2016 of the mountain race will take place on February 27^th with some 721 athletes from within and outside Cameroon taking part. It will be the 21^st edition, the third since the return of Guinness as official sponsor. The race will be taking place under a mood of suspense as it is not clear whether Guinness is going to continue the sponsorship of the event of not hence the appeal of the president of the athletics federation for the three years contract with Guinness which expires this year to be renewed.

Initiated in 1973, the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race of Hope is Cameroon’s oldest marathon and one of the best known mountain climbing events in Africa which attracts over 20.000 people each year.