•As 23 states arrive for Games
No fewer than 23 states have arrived in Ogun State for the 2024 National Sports Festival (NSF), even as Vice President Kashim Shettima will formally declare the Games open today.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the biennial festival is to officially commence on Sunday.
The Director General, National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, disclosed in an interview with NAN on Saturday in Abeokuta.
Olopade told NAN that there were visible signs that the state would host the best festival in the history of the country.
“Twenty-three states are already in the camp; their feeding and welfare are top-notch and seamless.
“I just spoke with leaders of four states who are already praising the state.
“Globally, if you have an event of this nature, the first thing is accommodation and feeding,” he said.
NAN observed that finishing touches were ongoing at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, venue of the opening ceremony.
NAN also observed that different cultural troops were at the main bowl of the stadium rehearsing performances for the ceremony.
Some sports fans and analysts who spoke to NAN expressed confidence that the festival would surpass the successes recorded in the last edition in Delta State.
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Mr Abiodun Alabi, an Abeokuta-based sports journalist, told NAN that he believed that the sports festival would be better than the previous edition.
Alabi expressed hope that new talents would be discovered from the festival.
Gateway Games will open with a colourful ceremony that promises cultural splendor and athletic excellence.
Ogun State Governor, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has assured the nation that the state is fully prepared to host athletes, officials, and guests from across the country.
This year’s edition breaks new ground with the introduction of a symbolic ‘38th state’—the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA)—a team of exceptional young talents competing independently to spotlight Nigeria’s future champions.
Over 10,000 athletes from all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and the IJA team will compete in 33 sports, making this edition one of the most extensive in the festival’s rich history. It stands as a celebration not just of athletic talent, but of the enduring spirit of the Nigerian people.
Beyond the competition, Gateway Games Ogun 2024 will showcase Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage. From the pageantry of the opening and closing ceremonies to daily exhibitions of traditional music, dance, and art, the festival promises to be a grand celebration of the nation’s identity.
Events will take place across multiple venues, including the Alake Sports Centre, MKO Abiola Stadium, Remo Stars Stadium, and other key facilities. The Games Village will be hosted at Babcock University, providing a comfortable and secure environment for athletes and officials.