Achieving The Vision Of 17th NSF

Rivers State is scheduled to host the 17th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF), a fiesta that brings together the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria.

It serves as the nursery bed for identifying and nurturing sporting talents for the country, and integrating the youths of Nigeria under one cause for, at least, a forthnight.

After an impressive 16th edition tagged KADA Games 2009, and hosted by the city of Kaduna, Kaduna State, Rivers State is widely expected to raise the bar in terms of facilities, organisation and other flavours of the 17th edition.

Receiving the mantle to host the national sports fiesta during the closing ceremony of KADA 2009 in February 2009, the state government, represented by the state Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, promised that the 17th edition would be unique.

The fiesta, he said, would be used to mark the Jubilee anniversary of the country. Also, it would showcase the traditional hospitality and culture of Rivers people, and government’s commitment to providing ultra modern sports facilities for the people.

In addition, Governor Chibuike Amaechi severally declared government’s preparedness to ensure that the festival holds within a brand new, single games village that would ensure the spirit and essence of the fiesta are achieved.

In fact, the state has made a promise to stage the best ever orgnanised sports festival, using world class facilities.

The Tide is happy that the state government is committed to using a brand new facility for the festival.

We commend the pace and quality of work currently going on at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, the brand new facility earmarked for the fiesta.

It is encouraging to note that most facilities for different games, especially, the swimming pool and courts are more than sixty per cent completed.

However, after having the festival postponed twice, from November, 2010 to February, 2011, and now June, 2011, there is every need to ensure that promises on the quality of the games, and new date are delivered.

We say so because all eyes are on the state to surpass every record so far set by previous hosts in terms of organization, facility and standard of the fiesta.

Also, knowing the terrain and likely weather obtainable in the state during the month of June, there is concern that the festival, especially the athletes and spectators may be hampered by the weather.

We, therefore, encourage the Local Organizing Committee, (LOC) and the Main Organising Committee (MOC) to ensure that no stone is left unturned in delivering on the projects and logistics for the games.

Conscious efforts must be made to ensure that the 17th National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged “Garden City Games,” leaves positive indelible marks on the minds of participants, and enduring legacy for the sports loving youth of the state in particular, and Nigeria, as a whole.

Though, the country’s Jubilee year and celebrations may have passed officially, the Garden City Games must be packaged in a way to mark the nation’s milestone, just as was promised by the state.

Rivers State Government’s mission and vision for the Games must not only be put on show during the festival, the MOC and LOC should make the fiesta worthwhile for all after the postponements.

Furthermore, the LOC, the Rivers State Sports Council and other bodies entrusted with preparing the state’s athletes for the festival must dot every ‘is’ and cross every ‘ts’ towards making the state winner of the bi-ennial competition for the first time.

The state is hosting the festival to win, and there must not be any excuse for failure.