‘Rivers, Haven For Sports Competition’

Rivers State is in good stead to host various sports meets, especially the next edition of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) Games in 2013.

According to the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, the state possesses the capacity in terms of facility, experience and organisational savvy to host the games next year.

The speaker, represented by the Clerk of the House, Sir Emmanuel Ogele stated this when the national officers of PASAN led by its president, Comrade Fatei Jimoh, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, at the weekend in Port Harcourt.

He expressed the state’s readiness to host the event come 2013, noting that it had successfully hosted a landmark 17th edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF) last year.

“The state recently hosted a landmark 17th National Sports Festival in 2011, showcasing so many modern sporting equipment and facilities during the NSF” the speaker said, assuring that it would do another good job with the PASAN Games next year.

Also speaking on the occasion, the State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Fred Igwe, said that the state was ready to host all kinds of sports tournaments.

“We just successfully hosted the First South-South Volleyball Championship. This is an indication that the state is always ready to host all kinds of sports meets,” he said.

The National President of PASAN, Comrade Jimoh on his part, said that he was impressed with the modern sporting facilities in the state.

According to him, after the inspection of sports facilities at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports complex, Alfred Deite-Spiff Sports Complex and Liberation Stadium, he became convinced that the state has the capacity to host any competition.

“What I saw at Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex is second to none in Africa. These facilities are exquisite and I commend Governor Chibuike Amaechi for what he is doing for sports development in Nigeria,” Comrade Jimoh stated.

He confirmed that the visitation was to know the level of preparation by the state to host the games in 2013.

It would be recalled that Rivers State is bidding to host the next edition of the PASAN Games in 2013, following the impressive performance by Rivers PASAN at the last edition held in Ogun State, early this year.

Tonye Orabere

Young swimmers set for competition in the ultra-modern swimming pool at Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex during the 17th National Sports Festival, Garden City Games 2011. Photo: Chris Monyanaga