5th NSSF Begins In PH,

All is now set for the 5th edition of
Nigeria National School Sports Festival (NNSSF) which kicks off in Port
Harcourt, Rivers State Capital, today.

The festival tagged “Rivers 2013 is expected to feature
about 7,000 children drawn from Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary
School levels across the country, while competition in some events are expected
to commence today, the official opening ceremony has been scheduled for Sunday.

A statement issued by the Chairman, Media/Publicity
Sub-Committee of the Festival, Blessing Wikina said the opening ceremony of the
festival would take place at Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday.

He said that the aim of the sports festival is to
discover talents in 18 sporting events which include volleyball, swimming,
athletic, handball, Football, badminton, wrestling, table tennis.

Others include hockey, boxing, weightlifting, class,
scrabble gymnastic, judo and taekwondo.

According to him, the Local Organising Committee (LOC)
of the festival headed by the State Commissioner of Sports,  Hon Fred Igwe has assured that adequate
arrangements  have been put in place to
ensure hitch-free and successful competition.

The Tidesports gathered that the events are expected to
take place at the new Chief Adokiye AmieSimeka Stadum, Afred Diete-Spiff Sports
Complex, Liberation Stadium and Port Harcourt Golf Club.

It would be recalled that Rivers State hosted the 11th National Sports
Festival (NSF) in 2011 which was adjudged as the best in the history of the
festival.

Meanwhile, state contingents for the school sports
festival were expected to have arrived Port Harcourt yesterday.

According to a member of the local organising committee,
Pastor Jonah, Delta, Lagos, Anambra and Cross River States were expected to be
among the early arrivals.

As at press time yesterday, the pastor said that the
states were on their way to the University of Port Harcourt Premises where all
contingents will be quartered.

He also added that everything was ready for their
arrival and comfort throughout the festival.