Sports facilities in Port Harcourt for all Nigerians — Amaechi

From Nwadike Ugochukwu, Port Harcourt
Posted: Thursday, July 7, 2011

Rivers State Government has challenged sports administrators in Nigeria to use the world class sporting facilities at the new games village in Port Harcourt, to harvest more sports glory for the country.
Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi stated this while speaking at the 17th National Sports Festival, tagged Garden City Games, at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.
Governor Amaechi, who called on the National Sports Commission (NSC), various sports federations, corporate organisations and schools, to utilize the facilities at the sports complex to discover new talents, as well as enhance those that would represent the country in national, and international sporting competitions, said the facility was for the good of all Nigerians.
The Governor remarked that the sports festival provides a platform to reinforce friendship and unity among the various ethnic groups in the country.
"The keen competition, sportsmanship and comradeship at these games are the fuel on which our youths can run the long distances, we must galvanize these potentials and develop our sports in order to provide the right opportunities for our people", Governor Amaechi stated.
He explained that the desire to develop sports propelled the state government to embark on the building of a brand new stadium for the games, Christened Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium Complex, in the Greater Port Harcourt City, and is the first of its kind in the country.
Also speaking, the Director-General, National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji, said that the festival has recorded some innovations, particularly the on-line registration, which has eliminated cases of poaching of athletes and other related cases.
Dr. Ekeji, said 25 sports are on parade at the festival in line with international accepted standards, adding that about 17,200 athletes were registered for the games.
In his welcome address the Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Eng. Tele Ikuru, thanked President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Sport Commission for giving the state the opportunity to host the games.