17th NSF: Facilities Getting Ready – Iyaye

Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, has stated that some facilities for the 17th National Sports Festival are now ready for use.

The festival tagged, “Garden City Games,’’ is to be hosted by the state in June at a new games village under construction.

Iyaye siad on Monday that facilities so far completed at the games village were two swimming pools, diving pools as well as tennis, handball and basketball courts.

“ I can assure you that the stadium is close to completion and most of the facilities are ready.

“Brand new modern swimming pools are completed, one for competition and one for training.

“ Diving pools are completed, tennis courts are ready, handball court is ready ,basketball courts are ready.

“ The only aspect of the stadium that is being completed now is the main bowl where we expect that most of the athletics events will hold.

“ So, if you visit the stadium, you will see a lot of work that is being done, ‘’ he said.

The commissioner said the festival was postponed from February to June because of some national events like the voter registration and the elections in April.

“ In January, the National Sports Commission, in conjunction with the National Council on Sports, postponed the festival from February to June and that is as a result of national issues that came up.

“ The voter registration exercise took place then and we thought that probably it will be for a few months.

“ But, we are also aware that the elections will come up in April and that was why the festival was shifted to June,’’ he said.