RSG Restates Commitment To Host Best Games

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Garden City Games has reaffirmed that the on-going  17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt will be the best in the annals of sports festival history in Nigeria.

Ikuru, who is also the Deputy Governor of Rivers State stated this yesterday in a press briefing with journalists at the temporary secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council.

According to him, it will take more than 30 years to come back to the standard set by the state.

“We have set new standards in the nature and quality of facilities provided. Our swimming pool is the best in the country, it has diving board, there are pitches, too in a neat environment, so we are ready to host a most formidable game”, he said.

He continued that the state has the best of accommodation in a university environment, with one thousand two hundred functional toilets.

“The LOC also sank over five boreholes, bought generators to service the pumps.

“This is the first time in the history of the National Sports Festival where plates are given to athletes to eat which is part of the high standard we have set,” he added.

He noted that it is the first time athletes are being given brand new foams, two bed sheets with pillow cases all brand new. Also, a medical van has been provided at every venue to evacuate people saying that, about 14 vans with medical personnel have been kept on standby in case of emergencies.

Speaking on the opening ceremony scheduled for Sunday July 3, 2011, he said that it will be the first of its kind, the venue will be spectacular.

On security, Ikuru said that there is nothing happening in Port Harcourt that is not happening in other states but assured that concrete security arrangement have been put in place.

“We have 17,000 police, 10,000 JTF on ground and have opened 10 additional entrances for easy entry and exit at the stadium, while everybody must be screened on entry, during the opening and closing ceremonies.