The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the forthcoming 17th National Sports Festival tagged, “Garden City Games 2010”, has elected Mace Events Management Limited as the major marketing consultant for the games.

Commissioner for Sports in Rivers State, Hon. Boma Iyaye revealed this at the maiden press briefing to flat off fund raising campaign and formal presentation of the marketing consultants, at the LOC headquarters over the weekend in Port Harcourt.

According to him Mace, was carefully selected after a thorough screening of different marketing consultants that indicated interest to raise funds, saying that the organisiation is a reliable one with an enviable tract records of event deliveries.

“As the press briefing is going on the LOC and MACE Events Management Limited have reached an agreement on how to raise funds and organize a befitting sports festival and to ensure that is the best in the history of the games”, he said.

“We would ensure that we task the organisation to function optimally and to deliver a schedule as the LOC would create an enabling environment for them to operate successfully”.

Hon Iyaye used the forum to appeal to journalists in the state to co-oporate with the LOC for effective publicity of the game.

Speaking at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mace, Mr. Bob-Manuel Benibo assured the LOC that his organisation would deliver its obligations on schedule.

“Our desire is to partner responsibly in the organization of the Garden City Games, which by God’s grace would become the best ever organised (NSF) in the history of the games in Nigeria”, he said.

According to Benibo the management of the organisation has mobilised all its networks and would from next week embark on the campaign.

He appreciates the LOC and the state government for selecting the company in midst of many, also the confidence reposed on them.

Tonye Orabere