Akwa Ibom set for 2018 youth sports festival

More than 15, 000 students from primary and secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State are expected to participate in the second edition of the state’s Youth Sports Festival [AKSYSF], slated to begin on March 5.

The participants would take part in about 23 games, which include athletics, badminton, baseball/softball, basketball, boxing, chess, cricket, cycling, football, handball, judo, karate, kung-fu and traditional sports (Mbok).

Others events are scrabble, squash rackets, special sports, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.

The proposed time table for the event from the state Ministry of Youths and Sports showed that the unveiling of mascot/draw will take place on February 26, 2018 at the Civil Service Auditorium, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, Uyo.

The opening of camp/arrival of teams will be on March 3, while the opening ceremony will be on March 5.

The competition proper will hold from March 6 to 9, while the closing ceremony will take place on March 10 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Meanwhile, local government elimination competition has started at the state’s different zones.

The Guardian recalls that the maiden edition of the competition for primary and secondary schools in 2017 produced talented athletes that helped the state to win Three Diamond National Sports Summit Awards from the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports.

At the awards, the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel was described as a model in sports development in the country based on his programmes. The state also got awards for the Most Comprehensive Sport Development Programme in 2017, the Best Sports Infrastructure in Nigeria 2017, as well as State with the Most Patriotic Sports Supporters in Nigeria.