Enugu metropolis is currently playing host to 680 athletes drawn from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state for the Under-15 Youth Games organised by the Enugu state ministry of Youth and Sports in collaboration with the China Communications Construction Company( CCCC ) .
Briefing newsmen on Wednesday on the level of preparedness for the event, which will kick -off on Thursday, August 22, the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports Hon. Lloyd Ekweremadu, Jnr. said the aim of the event is to hunt for talents in different sporting games. He said 18 events will be featured and winners will go home with Cash prizes .
According to him, the winners will be determined by the number of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals won by the Local Government councils. The overall winner( Local Government Area)will go home with a sum of One million naira , Second position goes home with a sum Five hundred thousand naira while third place will go home with a sum of Three hundred thousand naira.
Pix- Ekweremadu Jnr.
He explained that the” Youth Games symbolizes one of the benchmarks of His Excellency ‘s goals in Sports development to bring back grassroots sports.”
Ekweremadu disclosed that adequate preparation had been made in the areas of accommodation, feeding , security and other logistics.. He expressed optimism that the talents discovered would be trained for future national championships.
He commended the state Governor, Dr Peter Mbah for his support to the ministry of Youth and Sports, which had contributed to the successes recorded so far since his assumption of office on August 10,2023.
” This Government is committed in Sports development. The Exco had approved the rehabilitation of Five Parks in the state, to modernize them and include football and basketball facilities”, he said. . He expressed the hope that the Sports Academies in the state will benefit from the facilities.
The Commissioner also thanked the China Communications Construction Company for their partnership. He said Enugu State has done well in the areas of media coverage, branding and marketing as expected and the partnership hopefully will continue.
Meanwhile, the Director of Information , Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dan Onwuegbuna in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday said the Games which began on Tuesday 20th August 2024 with screening and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, will end on 25th August 2024.
“It was designed to select the best athletes who will represent the State in the forthcoming National Youth Games scheduled for Asaba, Delta State from 10th- 20th September, 2024”, he said..
According to Onwuegbuna, the Commissioner admonished officials to be fair and just in officiating . The statement read in parts:
“Addressing officials at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Barrister Lloyd Ikechukwu Ekweremadu, charged the officials to be above board ,fair, equitable and just. He noted that the Games were designed to improve sports in the State and to enable the State select the best athletes for the National Youth Games .
“He regretted that the State didn’t do well last year consequently the need to improve on its performance.
” Commit yourself to the improvement of sports in Enugu State. The State didn’t do well last year and the Governor was not happy at the performance consequently the decision for this Games to enable the State select the best athletes who will represent the State at the games’
” The State didn’t go with her best athletes last year. This game was designed to select the best athletes for the State. We are desirous of rewriting sports in the State, ensure that only athletes who are under 15 and the best are selected’ .
” It is a huge task that you have, however, the size of the competition will not be a problem to you considering your experiences as coaches and officials who have competed in national and international levels, ensure that the children under your care are safe and well fed’ he said.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama