…says Edo ready to host National Sports Festival
BENIN CITY – The National Camp for the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics Games will be set in Edo State to allow contingents for the games to take advantage of the world-class Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City and other facilities built by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, for their preparations.
Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, disclosed this to journalists during a visit to Edo State ahead of the National Sports Festival, scheduled to take place in the state between April 2 and 14, 2021.
Dare who expressed satisfaction with the quality and standard of sporting facilities in the state, noted that the revamp of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and other facilities has raised the bar for sports development for other states in Nigeria.
He stated that Edo was the best place to host contingents for the Olympic Games, adding: “There is no better place to host Nigerian athletes for the Tokyo Olympic Games than Edo State. The state already has the facilities and the national camp will be set up in Edo State.”
Acknowledging the state’s preparedness for the National Festival tagged Edo 2020, the sports minister said: According to him: “I can’t ask for more with what I have seen here. Sports men and women can’t ask for better facilities than what we have here at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Edo State. The facilities and equipment will excite the athletes, as they are comparable to what you will find anywhere in the world.
“This is a revamp of sporting facilities to global standards never before seen anywhere in the country. It raises the bar for any other state that wants to revamp its sporting facilities. I am satisfied with what I have seen here today and most of our athletes will be ready to compete here and set new personal and world records.”
On his part, Governor Obaseki noted: “From what we have seen here, it is clear that this is a world-class facility that is ready to host a world class event. Every sport listed in the festival has world-class facilities to cater for it. The facilities match whatever you have across the globe. We are ready. Accommodation is ready.”
