By YETUNDE FATUNGASE

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has inaugurated a 16-man Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 22nd National Sports Festival to be hosted by the state in 2024.

The governor inaugurated the LOC in his office in Abeokuta on Monday.

Abiodun noted that the state was more than prepared to surpass previous editions of the tournament and the achievements recorded during the last festival held by the state in 2006.

The governor expressed the readiness of his government in putting in place world-class sporting infrastructure across the length and breadth of the state.

Abiodun said that the festival was not about the competition or the performances.

He noted that the state under his watch was ready to showcase the talents, culture, potential and unique sense of hospitality of the people of the state.

“We are determined to put in place a world-class sporting infrastructure across the length and breadth of the state.

“Thus underscoring our determination to ensure that we host a very befitting sports festival to the admiration of all stakeholders in the sector and around the world

“For us in Ogun State, this festival isn’t just about the competition and performances, even though we would love to host and win every medal.

“We want to host a national sports festival that will showcase the talents, our culture and potential of our great state as well as a very unique sense of hospitality of our people,” the governor said.

Abiodun noted that the festival would bring together the energy and creativity of youths in the country and also served as a platform for them to showcase their diverse talents and potential.

He said that hosting the festival was a testament to the commitment of his administration to empower the next generation by offering them the opportunity for growth and self-development.

He urged members of the committee to embrace the responsibility given to them with a deep sense of purpose.

Abiodun said that their attention to detail, effective planning and seamless execution would be the magic they needed to host a remarkable edition of the festival.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the LOC, Bukola Olopade, commended the governor for bidding and winning the right to host a successful national sports festival.

Olopade, a former Sports Commissioner in the state, acknowledged Abiodun for being the first governor in the country to ensure that all its athletes at the last sports festival in Delta State went home with cash rewards irrespective of winning or losing.

“I know I speak authoritatively when I say that has not happened before in this country where every participating athlete got something to take home in spite of the fact that they didn’t come back home with medals. It has never happened before.

“The second thing you’ve achieved is to put together the aficionados of sports today in Nigeria.

“The gentlemen and women that are assembled here before you today are literally the best brains and minds in sports today in Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)

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