Sports
Rivers Ready For Schools Sports Festival
No fewer than 7,000 pupils and students from various states of the federation are expected to participate in the 5th edition of National School Sports Festival scheduled for Port Harcourt from January 24- February 3, 2013.
Secretary of the Media/Publicity Sub-Committee, Olalekan Ige disclosed this in Port Harcourt Wednesday while speaking on the readiness of the state to host the festival.
He disclosed that participating athletes would be a combination of primary and secondary school students.
According to him, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) had concluded arrangements to ensure a successful hosting with the short listing accommodation and facilities for the games.
He listed venues for the games to include Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium, Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre, Liberation Stadium and Port Harcourt Golf Club, while the University of Port Harcourt is scheduled to be used for accommodation.
“We are ready in terms of facilities, in terms of feeding, of course, that will not be a problem.
“We already have the experience .We hosted athletes during the national sports festival, which held in Port Harcourt. So, we already have the experience of how to be able to handle the feeding.
“And of course, because they are children from primary schools and students from junior and senior secondary schools, they require a special type of care. Some of them may be actually leaving their state for the first time since they were born, so they will be coming to a state they have never been before.
“So, we expect that we will have some kind of new experience in terms of being able to handle children , but then, we are of course going to get keepers who will stay with these children, who will be able to talk to these children,’’ he stressed.
Among the sports for the festival include athletics, handball, swimming, volleyball, football, badminton, wrestling, table tennis, hockey, boxing, chess, judo, taekwando, tennis, scrabble weightlifting, cricket, golf, dart and rugby would be demonstration sport.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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