- 10,000 athletes expected
Rivers State Governor Sir Siminialayi Fubara has accepted to host the 43rd edition of the Public Service Games.
The governor promised adequate security for over 10,000 athletes, who will be participating in the games.
Speaking on behalf of Fubara at the weekend, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tammy Danagogo, said the games christened ‘Simplified Rivers Games 2024’ would see public servants from across the federation partaking on 16 games between November 27th and December 5th .
He said five venues including Sharks Stadium, Alfred Diette-Spiff Civic Centre, Adokiye Amiesamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt Club and Yakubu Gowon Stadium, were undergoing renovation ahead of the games.
Danagogo spoke in Port Harcourt in the company of the President, Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA), Aloku Amaebi, along with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chairman, Dr George Nwake.
Danagogo said: “No doubt the state is ready to host the Public Service Games. His Excellency has granted his approval for this games to hold in Rivers State and by the grace of God, we are ready to host the games.
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“His Excellency has asked me on his behalf to thank both the Federation at the national level and our civil servants for coming together to see that sports is brought to the fore.”
Danagogo said the state understood the importance of the games to the service and the nation.
He said: “It’s a win for us as a state, it’s a win for everybody that is coming for the games and His Excellency being one of you as he then was, knows the benefit derivable from these games for the civil servants, Rivers State and of course, Nigeria as a whole.”
On his part, Amaebi described the Public Service Games as a major sporting event in the country and commended Rivers State Government for accepting to host the games for the second time having hosted it previously under former Governor Peter Odili.
He confirmed that 10,000 athletes and officials were expected to take part in the games saying the benefit of the games was enormous for the state.
He said: “We will be expecting over 10,000 athletes, officials and dignitaries to participate at the games. Rivers State will be hosting and it’s going to be a great win for Rivers State in terms of commerce, in terms of hospitality, in terms of trade and also in terms of socio-economic activities.”
Earlier, the LOC chairman and Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. Nwaeke said serious work was ongoing to give all the marked venues facelift.
He named other benefits of the games to the state and country as networking, promoting general wellbeing of civil servants, increased productivity, boost in the state’s commercial activities and creation of informal employment opportunities within the period.
Public servants would participate in games such as football, Tennis, Badminton, volleyball including para-games amongst others are expected to take place during the tournament.