5,700 plus Athletes Arrive in Asaba for National Youth Games

A total of 5,776 athletes from 29 states have arrived and registered for the 8th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, ahead of the official opening ceremony set for Thursday.

Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, personally inspected the facilities at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, which serves as the main venue for the games. The governor expressed confidence that the state is fully prepared to host the event, which kicks off tomorrow.

During his tour, Governor Oborevwori visited several key areas, including the swimming pool, shooting range, and Indoor Sports Hall, guided by the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, along with senior officials from the State Sports Commission.

Speaking to journalists after his tour, the governor stated, “We are ready to host the National Youth Games. The opening ceremony is tomorrow, and I am confident that this year’s edition will surpass last year’s in terms of success.”

He also highlighted the significance of the games in nurturing young talent, pointing to Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, who emerged from previous editions of the National Youth Games and competed in the Paris Olympics.

“There are clear benefits from hosting these games. As seen from the last Olympics, Favour Ofili did remarkably well, even though she didn’t win a medal. She is a product of these games. For this year, we are looking to discover talent even greater than Ofili, and I assure everyone that this year’s edition will be an improvement on last year’s,” the governor added.