Chief Felix Obuah, proprietor, Go Round FC of Omoku, a Nigeria Nation-wide League (NNWL) 1 side in Rivers, has promised cash and scholarship reward to athletes who excel in athletics championships.

Obuah made the disclosure when the maiden GO Round/SWAN athletics championships for secondary schools in Rivers opened on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

He said the overall local government that wins the championships would go home with a cash prize of N1 million, while 20 outstanding athletes would be given scholarship up to university level.

“The aim of these championships is to catch them young. Rivers is blessed with abundant talents and we decided to use these Games to discover and make them great stars,’’ he said.

He said that the championships would be annual to assist the government to develop sports.

Former Minister of Sports, Dr Tammy Danagogo, who declared the Games open, commended the sponsor for his initiative to groom athletes.

“Athletics is the mother of sports and when you encourage athletics, you will be encouraging all aspects of sports,’’ he said.

Danagogo said the decision to host the competition would assist in discovering young talents from the grassroots who would do the nation proud in the future.

He urged the students to emulate athletes discovered through school sports who later became world beaters.

The Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Mr Boma Iyaye, urged individuals and corporate bodies to assist government by sponsoring sports.

He commended Obuah for sponsoring the championships, saying it would engage the youth and showcase their skills.

Iyaye also urged the students to make good use of the championships to become stars that would represent the state and the country in future events.

More than 500 students from the 23 local government areas of the state are participating in the championships that end on Feb. 4.