We Are Fixing Hiccups At The Games – LOC Scribe

Bestman Nwoka is the Secretary of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 17th National Sports Festival (Garden City Games 2011). In this brief chat, he talks about the state’s readiness for the games and the projected benefits of the next few days to the economy of Rivers. Excerpts:

Question: How would you assess the readiness of the state to carry the games through?

Answer: Indeed, the state is ready and we have shown that in several ways. It is expected that in the first or second day you might get some hiccups, but the important thing is that we are on top of the situation, we are identifying the gaps and we are covering them. Everyone is working to ensure all is well; we left here about 1am yesterday with the chairman of the LOC, the deputy governor himself, presiding over the meeting and we are back here again today to continue. We are identifying the gaps and we are addressing them perfectly well.

Question: The host state, Rivers, is also a participant in the games, what is Rivers hoping to get out of this event?

Answer: As a matter of fact, by last night, I was told that we already have garnered four gold medals and six silver and we are hoping that today we will continue to sustain the lead on the table and sustain it. Because will have prepared, we invested so much in men and equipment, I am sure that the results we show. Rivers state has prepared adequately well. We have been on this for two years and I believe the results we prove our level of preparedness.

Question: Looking at the larger picture, outside winning laurels and medals from the games, what does the state, as an economic entity, hope to make out of the festival it is hosting?

Answer: We look forward to a bigger boost in our economy. In the public viewing of Rivers, the world will see a more secure Rivers state because the essence of this festival is to also show that Rivers State is peaceful and hospitable.