Ogun Stands A Better Chance To Host 2022 National Sports Festival – Commissioner
By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
Going by the arrays and availability of sporting facilities across the three Senatorial district, Ogun State stands a better chance to host the 21st National Sports Festival in 2022.
The state had hosted the biennial sports festival fourteen years ago, and it was described as the best sports festival ever to have been hosted in the history of Nigeria sports.
This was the submission of the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr. Oluwadare Kehinde while addressing the Evaluation Bid Committee team of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports in Abeokuta, after an inspection visit to the state sports facilities.
Elated at the level of sporting facilities witnessed by the committee, the commissioner however reaffirmed the state government readiness to host the 21st edition in 2022 without any hitch if given the hosting right.
The Committee team from Abuja who were in the state to assess sporting facilities available for hosting of the festival were conducted round various sporting facilities in Abeokuta, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode.
While addressing the committee, the commissioner emphasized the state readiness and that the present administration was passionate about sports development across the state.
In his remarks shortly after the inspection, the Chairman and leader of the Committee, Architect Katmwan Dungse described facilities available in Ogun State as commendable, noting that the state has a better chance of hosting the festival in 2022.
Facilities inspected included MKO Abiola International Stadium; Abeokuta Sport Club; Alake Sports Center, Ijeja; June 12 Cultural Center Kuto; Abeokuta Grammar School; Gateway International Stadium Sagamu; NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sagamu, and Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode.
Meanwhile, the bid to host the 21st National Sports Festival in 2022 would be announced at the closing ceremony of the 20th edition of the Festival, scheduled for Edo State from March 22nd through April 1st, 2020.
