Sports
NSC, National Council on Sports Approves Fixed Calendar for National Sports Festival, Streamlines Number of Sports to 32
Joel Ajayi
In a bid to enhance the operational effectiveness and overall performance of Nigerian athletes, the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) memorandum towards a fixed period for the National Sports Festival (NSF), as well as an affirmation of the Rules to streamline the number of sports at the Festival has been approved by the National Council on Sports.
The both memoranda were presented at the Extraordinary National Council of Sports meeting, that took place on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State and were approved accordingly.
In a communique signed by the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, it noted that the Council gave its approval for the National Sports Festival to be held between November and December of the Festival year.
The decision was reached in order to align with international best practices, as it is essential to maintain a stable and predictable sports calendar for our traditional national competitions such as the National Sports Festival.
A fixed period for the NSF would improve organization, participant engagement, financial and logistical efficiency, and marketing and sponsorship opportunities of the NSF.
The Communique also stated that the Council reaffirmed its decision on Rule 11 (i), (ii), and (iii) of the 2024 National Sports Festival General Rules and Regulations, as reached at the Extraordinary Council Meeting held in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday, March 14, 2019.
The Rule 11(i) stated that a maximum of 32 sports shall feature at the Festival (27 compulsory and 5 optional).
Rule 11(ii) affirmed that the compulsory sports were selected based on their popularity in the 36 states, including the FCT, State entries in the sports in previous Festivals, and the standard of Nigeria’s participation in the sport at the international level.
Rule 11(iii) stated that the Host State is at liberty to select a maximum of 5 sports out of the 25 optional sports to make up the 32 sports to feature ag the Festival.
This move will help stabilize the number of sports at the multisports event, to mitigate irregular changes that may affect management and organization of the Games.
The Council commended the Federal Government for its dedication to developing sports in the country by establishing the NSC.
The Council also appreciated the Ogun State Government for their commitment to hosting the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival.
The 22nd National Sports Festival, Tagged Gateway Games, will take place from May 18-30, 2025 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Sports
A Triumphant Close to the 22nd National Sports Festival
…As organisers promise another spectacle at closing ceremony on Thursday
Joel Ajayi
After 11 days of a true showcase of sporting competition in multiple Sports by some of the country’s top and even promising athletes, the curtain will finally be drawn on what many have described as one of the best ever organised National Sports festivals, when the closing ceremony is held on Thursday at the MKO Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
Whilst the quality of the Games’ opening ceremony is still getting tongues wagging, the entire sporting family and beyond is now anxiously looking forward to what the closing ceremony will look like.
The last 11 days have showcased Ogun state as a true Sporting hub with potential to even do more, with the quality of the facilities built for the games and the enthusiasm of the people who made the various venues their second home in the last few days.
A big testament to this was the history-making crowd that attended the male football final between Ogun state and Kwara State, which the host won by 4-1.
The MKO stadium was filled to full capacity while the crowd outside watching from the big screen reminds one of how much Sports is truly the soul of our togetherness as a country.
From the Alake Sports centre in Ijeja and the Baptist boys high school, to the Obafemi Awolowo square and the Remo stadium both in Ikenne, to the NYSC orientation camp in Shagamu, and the Ilisan town hall in Ilisan, the festival never lacked spectatorship throughout the games.
The Games actually lived up to the pre-tournament hype as both the National Sports Commission, NSC and the Ogun state Government pulled out every administrative capacity to ensure both athletes, officials and the media have an unforgettable experience.
The Gateway Games 2024 had been full of exciting drama and intrigues amongst the states and athletes which led to different new records being set and some old records being shattered.
The festival has also produced for the country some new exciting young talents especially with the shocking performance of the 38th state, the Invited Junior Athletes ( IJA), where they ended up winning some surprised medals to justify the Commission’s establishment of the initiative.
As the Closing ceremony holds on Thursday, the leadership of the National Sports commission, NSC, expresses its profound gratitude to the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ogun State Government for making sure millions of Nigerian youths see a renewed brighter future in the country through the National Sports Festival.
The NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dilko said ” our overwhelming gratitude goes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,GCFR, for his personal commitment to the development of Nigerian Sports by giving us every support financially and otherwise for the success of this festival”.
” And the Ogun state Governor, Dapo Abiodun also deserves a huge praise for the feat we all recorded with these games. I can’t thank him enough and posterity will surely remember him for good “.
The NSC Director General who is also the Chairman of the Main organising committee of the games, Hon Bukola Olopade also extended his gratitude to all the technocrats behind the scene that are responsible for the successful organisation of the games.
” From all the members of the Main organising committee to the various sub committees, to members of the local organising committees and all our technical officials in the various sports to the media and our athletes, every success that everyone is talking about concerning these Games belongs to you all”.
” Yes it was not a perfect festival because we acknowledged we had also some challenges but let me assure everyone that some of the challenges are already being worked upon ahead of the next Games holding in Enugu state next year”, he concluded.
The Closing ceremony is expected to bring together top Government functionaries to captain of industries while there will also be the rich cultural display of the state as Ogun state will officially pass the barton of hosting to Enugu state for the 23rd edition of the Games come September 2026.
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