Sports ministry inspects facilities for youth games today

Officials from the Federal Ministry of Sports Development will today, inspect facilities for the Eighth National Youth Games slated for Asaba, Delta State, from September 10 to 20.

The officials arrived in Asaba, yesterday, for a three-day Joint Technical Meeting ahead of the sporting fiesta.

The Director General of Delta State Sports Commission (DSSC), Festus Ohwojero, who informed The Guardian, yesterday, that today has been set aside for inspection of facilities, added that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has put everything in place for a successful hosting.

“We are not new to hosting major sporting events in Nigeria,” Ohwojero said.

Last week, Oborevwori constituted a seven-member Local Organising Committee (LOC) headed by a two-time sports commissioner in the state, Solomon Ogba.

The LOC also has the immediate past chairman of the DSSC Sports Commission and President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, and Ohwojero as member/Secretary.

Facilities to be inspected today include the tartan track of the Stephen Keshi Stadium; the indoor sports hall, a swimming pool, and some schools penciled down by Delta State as venue for the games.

According to Ohwojero, about 6,000 athletes are expected to attend this year’s edition, and they will be accommodated at Dennis Osadebe University, in Asaba.