Tag: National Youth Games

.Team Sokoto talks tough

The Games village for the 8th  National Youth Games will expectedly  open today  ahead Wednesday’s  opening ceremony in Asaba.

Tagged Asaba 2024,the Games will hold between September 9  and 19 with the opening ceremony slated for the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

Secretary of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Festus Ohwojero, said that all the venues scheduled to host the athletes would start operating today.

  Ohwojero, who is the Director General of Delta Sports Commission, stated that the over 5,000 athletes competing at the Games would be camped in different venues including the Dennis Osadebay University, the Sports Commission Hostel, Anglican Girls Grammar School (AGGS) and Infant Jesus Academy.

 Meanwhile, organisers of Asaba 2024have assured provision of health insurance for all the athletes in case of medical emergency during the competition.

  Chairman NYG media sub-committee, Harrison Ocholor, revealed that all athletes are covered during the period of the competition in accordance with standard practice worldwide, stating  that  the health and overall wellbeing of the young athletes participating in the competition is key and  will be taken seriously.

He advised all states contingent to compete fairly as the organisers would not tolerate any form of cheating throughout the Games.

  “The technical Committee from the Sports Ministry and those based in the state will ensure that athletes screening is not compromised, ” he said. 

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In a related development, Sokoto  State’s  Director of Sports, Alhaji Abdulhakim Yakubu, has expressed confidence in Team Sokoto’s preparedness for the Asaba 2024.

  The Games will witness the participation of Team Sokoto’s U-15 female handball team, U-15 male handball team, U-15 male volleyball team, and the U-15 football team.

  Following their victories in the zonal competition, Yakubu is optimistic of Team Sokoto surpassing their past mark this year.

  He thanked the state Governor Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, for his unwavering support and dedication to elevating sporting activities in the state.

  “This milestone marks a historic first for Sokoto, and the teams are poised to make their mark,” he said.

  He  also commended the Commissioner of Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Jamilu Umar, for his contributions to the team’s success.

  Yakubu however charged the athletes to remain focused and determined, emphasising that they are on the verge of creating history.

The Joint Technical Committee of the 8th  edition of the National Youth Games tagged, Asaba 2024 has approved 36 sports in the forthcoming competition, with kick-boxing and Kung fu ratified for medal scoring.The event which had been earlier scheduled to commence on the 10th  of September 2024 has been shifted by a day and would now start on the 9th till 19th  September.

The committee also fixed the age grade of the athletes at Under 15.

Speaking at the just concluded Joint Technical Committee Meeting of the 8th  Edition of the National Youth Games held at the Stephen Keshi stadium, Asaba, the Minister for Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, represented by the Director Grassroots Sports Development in the Ministry, Mr Patrick Okeke, explained that the adjustment in the date was brought back by one day due to the INEC scheduled gubernatorial elections in Edo State on 21 September which would lead to a total lockdown and restriction of movement in the State.

He said if the earlier date was sustained it would see various contingents from the South West who would pass through Edo State on their way back to their states violating the restriction order.

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The Minister also disclosed that the Zonal eliminations would commence on the 28th of August to the 1st of September while registration would commence from 24th to 28th of August and it would be done online.

He however thanked the Delta State Government for its commitment towards cadet sports development, saying the State had shown its readiness to host the rest of Nigeria again.

The Minister appealed that the little renovation work spotted during the inspection of the various facilities be attended to swiftly to ensure hitch free games.

Former national triple jump champion Olu Sule has called on the Ministry of Sports Development to clamp down on age-cheats at the forthcoming  National Youth Games beckons holding between September 9th  and 19th  in Asaba, Delta State.

The NYG is opened only to U15 athletes, but over the years some states have continued to parade athletes above the age limits thereby defeating the purpose of the competition. 

In the 2023 edition, it was alleged that athletes who were screened out were later allowed back into the field to contest through the backdoors.

 “The only way is to meet the defaulters with stiffer penalties while rewarding those sticking by the rules,” said Sule who discovered sprinter Kayinsola Ajayi who represented Nigerian recently at the 2024 Olympics from the NYG.

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 “We must also remove the winning culture of awarding medals or having medals table. Rather, recognition and rewards should be given to states presenting athletes within the age brackets and still winning.”

Meanwhile,  Sports Ministry’s  officials and the organising committee  have inspected the facilities at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba and other venues to be used for the NYG recently.

Delta State Sports Commission director-general, Festus Ohwojero, assured the various states’ contingent to the National Youth Games of a memorable outing. He said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori remained committed to delivering an enhanced sports fiesta that would take the National Youth Games to a higher level.

The Federal Ministry of Sports Development has announced August 28^th  to September 1st as the new date for the zonal elimination of the 8^th  National Youth Games, which will be held in the six geo-political zones of the country.

The new date was confirmed following the arrival of top officials of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development from the Paris 2024 Olympics.

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National Sport scooped that the initial date for the zonal elimination was moved due to the protest that rocked the nation between 1st to 10th August, 2024.

The states are expected to participate in the following team sports events: Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Hockey, Football, Handball, Volleyball, and Rugby.