Ogun Governor: Gateway Games 2024 Ready for Action

Ogun Governor: Gateway Games 2024 Ready for Action

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has announced that the state is putting the finishing touches on facilities in preparation for the National Sports Festival, Gateway Games 2024. While hosting sports editors at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre in Abeokuta, Abiodun revealed that facilities at the Alake Sports Centre and M.K.O. Abiola Stadium have been upgraded and are ready for use.

The governor emphasized that the state’s preparations go beyond just hosting the festival, highlighting the economic potential of sports. “For us, this goes beyond just the National Sports Festival; this is what I call the ‘Sports Economy,'” he said. Abiodun noted that the National Sports Festival was initially introduced to promote unity and skill development among youths after the civil war and has evolved into a platform for fostering leadership qualities and interpersonal skills.

Abiodun highlighted the state’s efforts to create a conducive environment for sports development, including infrastructure development, security, and economic reforms. He noted that sports is one of the means that unite the nation, promote skills, discipline, leadership, and nurture talents. The governor expressed his administration’s commitment to discovering and nurturing more talents to become world-beaters.

The governor also announced that the state has been preparing its team, Team Ogun, and that the festival will feature a game village where participants and contingents will stay together, promoting unity and skill sharing. Abiodun believes that the festival will be a legacy for the state, increasing its Gross Domestic Product and attracting international attention.

Already, the state’s sports facilities have begun to attract attention from international sporting organizations, with the African Athletics Confederation indicating interest in staging the Under-18 and Under-20 African Championships in Abeokuta. The governor thanked the federal government and industries operating in the state for their support and called for the support of sports journalists to make the event a success.

In his remarks, the President of the Guild of Sports Editors, Mr. Tony Ubani, praised the state’s efforts in upgrading the facilities, noting that the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium is particularly impressive. He assured that the Guild would support the state in pointing out areas that need improvement to ensure a world-class event.

The event also featured the appointment of Chief Segun Odegbami as the Grand Sports Ambassador of the State by Governor Abiodun. With the festival just around the corner, the state is confident that it will deliver a memorable experience for participants and spectators alike.