Stephen Keshi Stadium wears new look

Team Bauchi To Showcase “My Bauchi Agenda” in Asaba

After months of preparations, the Delta State government says it is fully set to host the Eighth National Youth Games (NYG).

Delta State hosted the seventh edition of the NYG last year, with virtually all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in attendance. Now, the Sheriff Oborevwori-led government says it is looking forward to hosting a bigger and better fiesta from September 9 to 19, 2024.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Solomon Ogba, told journalists that all logistics needed to host a successful event have been put in place.

Specifically, Ogba, a former Commissioner for Sports in Delta State, and two-time president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), said that this year’s Games would remain a talking point long after it has ended.

The Stephen Keshi Stadium, which is the main venue for the Games, is now wearing a new look, even as the organisers have deployed new facilities to add colour to the Games.

From the main bowl of the stadium to the swimming pool, and the two indoor sports halls, the state has shown that it is ready for the Games.

The opening ceremony of the Games will be held next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, still, in the euphoria of their outstanding performance at the North-East Zonal elimination for the Games, the Bauchi State Director of Sports, Usman Yusuf, has said that the state’s contingent is set to project the “Bauchi Agenda” of the state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, at the competition.

Team Bauchi, which competed in 13 events at the zonal elimination held in Jalingo, Taraba State, finished with five gold and eight silver medals, qualifying them to compete in as many as 10 ball sports in Asaba.

“Our athletes outstanding performance outshone our opponents, which qualified us to represent the zone in cricket male team, rugby male and female, volleyball female team, handball female team, basketball male and female teams, hockey female team, and beach volleyball male and female teams at the National Youth Games,” Yusuf enthused.

Yusuf said that the success story of the 222-man Team Bauchi at the North East Zonal Elimination derived from the moral and financial support rendered by the state governor, whom he commended for his keen interest and desire to develop the state sports industry and the youth, as well as, his consideration of sports as a viable profession, socio-political instrument for national unity, in line with his “My Bauchi Agenda.”

He assured the government and people of Bauchi State that the state’s contingent would not take the victory at the zonal elimination for granted, but would consolidate on the efforts to record more successes at the youth games to justify the government’s huge investment in the project.

Yusuf also commended the Bauchi State Commissioner of Sports, Mohammed Salis Gamawa, for his exemplary leadership, and for being a good ambassador of Governor Mohammed.