Fred Vubem
3 October 2008
Over 15.000 people attended the race prologue that took place yesterday at the 20th May Avenue in Yaounde.
The prologue of the 8th edition of the Grand Prix Chantal Biya international cycling race took the airs of a popular feast. Over 15.000 people thronged the 20th May Avenue in Yaounde to witness the launching of the race. The venue for the race prologue was removed this time from the J.F. Kennedy Avenue to the 20th May Avenue to make room for the large crowd that usually attends the event.
Traffic was deviated from the alley and messages from sponsors hung on flags and sign boards and affixed on electric poles that gave a festive look to the avenue. Another innovation this year was the unravelling of a large effigy of the First Lady, Chantal Biya who happens to be the matron of the race. There was also a major change in the animation of the race which was hitherto done only in French to include an English presenter to reflect the bilingual status of Cameroon. On hand also to animate the crowd, was a mobile caravan that belongs to a private television station in Cameroon which is also partner to the event. They were thrilling the public with good music and dancing competitions.
Victors were rewarded with soft drinks from one of the sponsors. There was also a clown dressed as a lady with much protruded buttocks that aroused laughter from the public. The crowd was not an inactive participant at the event as they cheered Cameroonian cyclists. When Ngue Ngok Yves won the prologue, there was popular jubilation as the crowd thronged in from both sides to close the race course and security officers had an uphill task keeping them at the edge of the pavement. He became the object of great admiration and had to be given police protection to meander through the joyful crowd.
Other highlights of the occasion included the presentation of teams, a match past of the various delegations taking part in the race with the arrival of the team from Burkina Faso at the eleventh hour. The warm up of the cyclists and escort riders constituted an attraction in its own right. Prominent among those present, was the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Augustin Edjoa, the Governor of the Centre Province, Koumpa Issa as well as the government delegate to the Yaounde urban council, Gilbert Tsimi Evouna.
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