The Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) of the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) and Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Tuesday, revealed that over 10 million pieces of Adire clothing have been sold in just 10 days, citing the economic boom triggered by the festival.

Olopade also noted that 9,940 athletes and officials were initially registered for the event; the number has now surged to over 11,000, further intensifying economic activity across the state.

Speaking at a press briefing at the ongoing Gateway Games 2024 in Abeokuta, Olopade said the massive turnout of athletes, officials, and tourists has significantly boosted commerce, especially for small and medium-scale enterprises.

Olopade stressed that the Gateway Games 2024 has extended its economic benefits beyond Abeokuta, with venues spread across Ikenne and other parts of the state.

He noted that the festival has led to full hotel bookings, increased transportation demand, and the emergence of new businesses around event centers.

He said: “Over 300 small scale businesses are operating inside the stadium. In 2019, people became multi-millionaires. People showed me houses that they built after the games. They are playing games during their business. When you go to Bangkok, at the entrance of Babcock University, over 100 small scale businesses are operating there.

“I know authoritatively that in the last 10 days, we have sold over 10 million Adira clothings. Because the Adira sellers are consuming now that we’ve run out of stock. We have more demand than supply right now.”

While acknowledging some concerns about the decentralized nature of the venues, Olopade insisted that the format allows for broader infrastructure development and community engagement.

He added, “Sports business is my forte, and I can assure you that the local economy is feeling the impact of this festival. The stock of Adire, our cultural export, is wiped out. That speaks volumes.”

He urged state governments to embrace the opportunity to host future editions of the NSF, describing it as a powerful catalyst for development, adding that, “Sports present an opportunity to build roads, upgrade infrastructure, attract investment, and boost internal revenue.”

He assured Nigerians that the festival remains highly competitive, despite the spread-out venues, with impressive contests ongoing in sports like basketball, boxing, and others.