17th NSF: ‘No Going Back On July Date’

The Rivers State Government, says there is no going back on July 2 kick-off date of the 17th National Sports Festival tagged Garden City Games 2011.

This hint was dropped yesterday by Governor Chibuike Amaechi while declaring open the 2nd joint technical meeting of the17th National Sports Festival that took place at the Hotel President, Port Harcourt.

Represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, Governor Amaechi said that the clock to the countdown of the Games had started, and that with 37 days to go, finishing touches were being put to all facilities and centres expected to host the various sports of the Games.

He said that the target of the State Government was that two weeks to the commencement of the Games, all facilities would be in place, and that the July 2 date for the opening ceremony had become sacrosanct, while in a few days painting of the venues of the various sporting events would have started.

Engr. Ikuru, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Games further hinted that with preparation for the State to host a memorable festival now in top gear, on June 16, President Goodluck Jonathan, the 36 States Governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory were expected in Port Harcourt to formally hoist the flag of the Games and that of the participating states.

He enjoined the States Directors of Sports to make their Governors aware of the flag hoisting event, and to ensure that while preparing their athletes for the Games, they publicise the games to their people.

Engr. Ikuru called for a fruitful partnership between the States to ensure that the Games of the 17th  National Sports Festival are successful.

Also speaking, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji said that with the lighting of the torch of the Games and its onward movement around the country, the 17th NSF had started.

Dr. Ekeji, who is also the Chairman of the Games MOC said that the Garden City 2011 Games would be memorable as it would kick start the format of 25 sports structure, which would make it easier to manage, saying that this second Joint Technical Meeting is the last main meeting before the Games kicks off.