National Youth Games gets new sports, date

Zonal elimination begins August 28

The 2024 National Youth Games (NYG) slated for Asaba, Delta State, will feature 36 sports, following yesterday’s addition of two new sporting events. Also yesterday, the Federal Ministry of Sports Development announced that the Games, which was scheduled to run from September 10 to 20, will now run from September 9 to 19, just as the zonal elimination will now be held in the six geo-political zones between August 28 and September 1.
 
The Guardian learnt that the new date was chosen at the end of the Joint Technical Meeting (JTM), in Asaba to allow all athletes, officials, and stakeholders, who will participate in the Games to depart for their home states before the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21.
 
A total of 34 sporting events were initially penciled down for the Games, but two new sports- Kickboxing and Kung Fu, were included to bring the total number to 36.
 
The Guardian also gathered, yesterday, that the initial zonal elimination was moved from August 1- to 10, 2024 due to the protest against bad government that rocked the nation. It will now be held on August 28 and 29 for states to qualify for team sports, including baseball, basketball, cricket, hockey, football, handball, volleyball, and rugby.The JTM  also decided that registration of athletes and officials for the Games will commence from August 24.