News making the rounds that the third edition of the Edo State Sports Festival scheduled for February 11-16 has been postponed is false and misleading says Barrister Godwin Dudu-Orumen, Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission (ESSC). Dudu-Orumen in a statement on Monday signed by Nnamdi Okosieme, his Special Adviser on Media, asked the public to disregard […]
via Reports of Postponement of Edo State Sports Festival, False – Dudu-Orumen — finixsportsblog
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has assured Nigerians that his administration will host the best National Sports Festival seen the inception of the games in 1973. The Governor made the promise at the National Stadium in Abuja on Sunday night moments after Edo State was handed hosting rights to the 2020 edition of the festival. […]
via Edo 2020: We’ll Deliver Best Games Ever, Says Governor Obaseki — finixsportsblog
National Sports Festival: Team Ondo Dominate Women’s Wrestling…Delta are Greco Roman Kings Team Ondo won 4 of the 10 gold medals available in Women’s Wrestling at the ongoing 19th National Sports Festival in Abuja, following the conclusion of Day 2 of action at the Velodrome. Commonwealth champions Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) and Aminat Adeniyi (62kg), African […]
via National Sports Festival: Team Ondo Dominate Women’s Wrestling… — finixsportsblog
SPORTS FESTIVAL: Edo State groans under the weight of bloated contingent as athletes, coaches suffer neglect As other states settle down to competition at the 19th edition of the National Sports Festival, which got underway yesterday, Edo State is groaning under the weight of an over-bloated contingent. With 591 athletes and officials, Edo State has […]
via SPORTS FESTIVAL: Edo State Groans Under The Weight Of Bloated Contingent… — finixsportsblog
With the 19th edition of the National Sports Festival moments away, all appears not to be well within the camp of Edo State. Investigations reveal that there is disquiet within the camp as athletes and officials complain of shoddy treatment in the run up to the Games. Specifically, checks indicate that funding has been a […]
via Sports Festival: Edo State Contingent, Bruised, Battered But Hopeful — finixsportsblog
The Ministry of Youth and Sports may host the 19th National Sports Festival in Abuja. This is because the Cross River state that won the rights to host the festival are not forthcoming with a date for the event. According to the Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung, the Main Organizing Committee for […]
via ABUJA IS OUR PLAN B FOR National Sports Festival – DALUNG — newfanzoneblog
Organisers of the 4th edition of the National powerlifting trials tagged “All Nigeria Powerlifting Championship” coming up between the 11th to 13th of December, inside the Gymnasium of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos have revealed their readiness to stage a world class event in their quest to reposition the sport in Nigeria.
The Powerlifting Federation of Nigeria speaking through its Secretary General, Ismaila Ademola Aderoju, said the competition was important since the sport has gained international recognition.
“First and foremost, at the last Olympics, Powerlifting attained Olympics games status, meaning that every powerlifting federation that are members of International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) are eligible to compete at the games and so, we are using this avenue to pick athletes to represent Nigeria at Rio 2016”
Speaking further, he lamented the postponement of the National Sports Festival but was quick to add that the postponement was a blessing in disguise as it will allow the powerlifting federation have more time to groom their athletes well before the NSF where the powerlifting will be included as an exhibition sport and they are poised to convince the National Sports Commission regarding the inclusion of powerlifting.
Aderoju revealed that next year will be a busy year for the federation as the World Championship will be hosted in the United States of America which calls for serious preparation.
He expressed optimism that this year’s edition will be bigger and better if the past 3 editions’ statistics are anything to go by.
“The 1st one, we had about 9 states, the 2nd increased to about 15 while the 3rd edition involved about 19 states and for this year’s edition, we are expecting about 26 states, clubs and individuals to come challenge for honours because that’s why it’s tagged ALL NIGERIA POWERLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP”
“We have 15 categories in powerlifting, 8 in the male category and 7 in the female category, so we are expecting close to 200 athletes to come and participate in the 3 day event.”
He concluded that participating athletes should not expect any form of financial remuneration in accordance with global practices for trials.
“Since we are using it to pick our athletes to represent the country, in accordance with global practices, winners will go home with certificates and medals but we may review that policy from the 5th edition and attach cash prizes in our quest to motivate and encourage our athletes.
We are using this competition to test the present state of our powerlifters because it’s been long we had a national competition that will bring together all the athletes and test their present conditions.
Cross Rivers State Host stakeholders Forum for 19th National Sports Festival tagged “Centenary Games”
Theme – Relish The Paradise Experience
19th National Sports Festival – Cross Rivers 2014 ” Centenary Games” stakeholders Forum held monday at the Wheatbaker Hotel, IKOYI, Lagos
The first presentation at the forum was made by Chris Parkes, of Chris Parkes Marketing, Marketing consultant to the games who enumerated the abundant mileage to be gotten by prospective sponsors and partners. Parkes posited that
“Sponsorship without reward is a merely a donation” and that the drive for sponsorship for the National sports festival would not be a “one way thing”
Sponsors stand to get a lot of Exposure for their brands from the “massive media blitz” that’s being planned by the organisers.
He also mentioned that the Centenary Games will be happening side by side the Annual Calabar Christmas Funfair.
Centenary Games ambassador and former Olympian Mary Onyali-Omagbemi during her presentation Acknowledged the massive support that the late MKO Abiola gave her and other athletes. She said MKO attended virtually every game were she was competing.
She however seized the opportunity to call on Corporate Nigeria to join her in her “Adopt A Talent” programme.
Her plan is to have different corporate bodies and individuals adopt an upcoming athlete and help with preparing the athlete towards the forthcoming “Rio 2014 Olympics”
One very distinct factor about the forthcoming National sports festival in Calabar is that it has been thrown open for the first time in the history of the games Onyali Announced.
This is to give all Nigerian athletes from home and abroad an opportunity to compete thereby providing a platform for them to be recognised and also possibly get drafted into the Nigerian national teams.
Prior to now previous editions was limited solely to homebased amateur athletes.
Onyali’s Presentation was followed by “The Investiture of Patrons”
Which was anchored by Hon Patrick Ugbe – Honourable Commissioner of Sports Cross River state . The investiture of the Three Patrons was done by the Governor Of Cross River State.
They are Alhaji Aliko Dangote who was represented by Mr Joseph Makoju.
Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw of the NDDC was the Second Patron to be presented with “certificate” by the Governor Of Cross Rivers, followed by Mr Tunde Folawiyo of Folawiyo Industries who also unavoidably absent but he was represented by Mr Jide Coker.
Then came the address of the Chief host of the event Governor Liyel Imoke , he like all the other speakers at this “Stakeholders Forum” emphasised the importance of private sector participation in Sports development.
He said Estimated cost of hosting the games is put at about 8billion Naira. And that the state government had already started Spending by investing massively in sports infrastructure development, which is also a part of the estimated cost.
Governor Liyel Imoke also said that Calabar as also been the home of The Super Eagles and Golden Eaglets, and both teams have not lost a single game played Calabar in the past to years.
“We are going to use technology to make this games the best ever in the history of the games” he said.
All aspects of the games will be properly put together to ensure that international best practices are fully adhered to.
From Security to accommodation and feeding, Logistics, etc no stone will be left untouched in the process of delivering a World Class tournament.
Speaking during the Interactive section Senator Ewa Heshaw –
Said the NDDC would into various ways they couldpartner with Cross River State on the hosting of the 19th National Sports Festival, and that would also look at the possibility of putting together a swimming and football tournament for the NDDC states.
Joseph Makoju on his own part Promised that Dangote Group would partner the state government on this project as it had done with other projects and they would also be interested in working with Mary Onyali on Her “adopt a Talent Project”
Honourable Godfrey Gaya , Chairman House Committee on Sports:
Gaya announced that The “National Sports Commission Bill” has gone thru it’s second reading and its main thrust is to see how the private sector and public sector can work together to move sports forwards.
He confirmed that the third and final reading would soon come up, and it is believed that when passed into law this will help create an enabling environment for private sector participation in sport development.
Going by the way the event was packaged and judging by the huge success of the Last edition of the Sports Festival, it is Safe to say Cross Rivers State looks to match or even possibly surpass the last edition.
In attendance were:
Gov Liyel Imoke – Executive Governor, Cross Rivers State.
Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye , DG National Sports Commission.
Honourable Godfrey Gaya , Chairman House Committee on Sports.
Engineer Joseph Makoju – Representing Aliko Dangote and Dangote Industries.
Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw – Chairman NDDC
Mary Onyali Omagbemi – Ex International, also in attendance were Media Practioners, Captains of industry. Amongst others.
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