Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The newly inaugurated Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 2024 National Sports Festival, Mr. Bukola Olopade, has revealed that the event to be hosted by Ogun State would be the best the country has ever had.
Olopade made this known after inspecting world-class facilities at the Remo Stars Football Club in Ikenne, the NYSC Orientation Camp in Sagamu, Alake Sports Center in Abeokuta, among others.
The Chairman reiterated the desire of the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration to provide state-of-the-art sporting infrastructure across the nooks and crannies of the State, saying ‘’without an iota of doubt, Ogun State will host a festival to the admiration of sporting stakeholders in Nigeria’’.
The former Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the State also lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun’s effort at bringing together the best brains and minds in Nigerian Sports, admitting that it shows the seriousness of the government of the State in ensuring a befitting sports festival.
“What surprised me today is the fact that I underestimated the value of the facilities we have in Ogun State. So, when the Governor said the State is more than ready to host this festival, he knew what he was saying. The facilities we have inspected so far have been amazing”, he said.
Olopade, while revealing that the State would organise age-grade competitions like the Tertiary Institution games, Secondary School sports and many more, added that 60 percent of the athletes would represent the State at the National Sports Festival.
Earlier in a separate interview, the designated Chairman, Venues and Facilities sub-committee, Dr. Emmanuel Igbinosa, while responding to the preparedness of the State, noted that most of the facilities inspected at the MKO International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta would need minor repairs, adding that the Ikenne edifice of Remo Stars Football Club was more than 100 percent ready to host four or five games.