8th edition of Douala Int’l Marathon set for November 29 to 30.

Nana who doubles as the President of Tara Sports & Entertainment, was speaking in Douala during a press briefing on Saturday, November 22.

Nana said the two-day event, initially scheduled for October but pushed to November 29–30 at the request of municipal and security authorities, is now backed by all required technical, security, and institutional approvals.

“We are in the starting blocks,” Nana revealed, noting that preparatory works began as far back as September.

“Yes, we are in the starting blocks. Despite the postponement, logistics, athlete registration, route preparation, medical coverage, and communication plans are already in place,” she told reporters.

She added that both institutional and private partners have renewed their commitments, with authorisations from the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Defence, Cameroon Athletics Federation and the Littoral Regional League already secured.

Athletes from over 30 countries set to participate

Registration data shows the presence of athletes from over 30 countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Nigeria, Congo-Brazzaville, Russia, and several European countries.

While professional athletes complete registration for the 42km and 21km races, organisers predict the largest participation will come from the family walk, which typically records thousands of local residents.

“For the marathon, we expect around 300 elite athletes, over 500 for the semi-marathon, and more than 5,000 participants for the family walk,” Nana disclosed.

Marathon theme focused on health, living together 

The 2025 edition is placed under the theme “my marathon, my health”, a reflection of the event’s growing emphasis on public health and the social cohabitation spirit in Douala.

Organisers announced new social-impact components, including, the inclusion of families with children with special needs such autism, sickle cell disease, Down syndrome amongst others, 

It will also serve as a means for expanded awareness campaigns on cancer, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, and also featuring corporate-backed medical screening tents at the start and finish points.

“This marathon has always been inclusive. This year, we are opening the course to families with children who have special health conditions. It is not just about running; it is about community and wellbeing,” the promoter stressed.

City Council ready, security guaranteed

The Douala City Council, which traditionally plays a central logistics role, is said to have done the needful despite concerns about road conditions, urban cleanliness, and crowd control.

Nana said the municipality and security services have “fully committed” to ensuring safety and smooth mobility along the marathon’s 42.195km route.

Acknowledging two years of internal turbulence, ranging from staffing challenges, financial pressure, and integrity concerns, Nana described this edition as part of a broader restructuring of Tara Sports.

“Ye have faced difficulties, but that is life in any organisation. What matters is that our partners understand the effort being made to rebuild and deliver a professional event,” she said.

Her collaborator, Simon Mukete, noted that over the years, the Douala International Marathon has remained the only major international competition hosted annually in Cameroon’s economic capital, drawing visibility, tourism traffic, and cultural activities.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3635 of Monday November 24, 2025