LAGOS – There has been low turnout of spectators in some of the venues for the ongoing Lagos State Sports Festival, tagged Ibile Games.
At the Teslim Balogun Stadium, one of the venues currently hosting Taekwondo and Swimming events on Friday had only a hand full of spectators to watch the competitions.
There was also low turnout at the venue for Table Tennis event at the National Stadium, Lagos.
At the Charlisco Sports Centre, Oshodi area of Lagos, the spectators who came out to watch boxing, the only event at the venue was also low.
However, at the Rowe Park, Yaba, the situation was different as many spectators turnout to watch events like gymnastics, basketball and weightlifting.
The poor turnout was a result of an apparent poor publicity ahead of the start of the Games.
Again, some of the events ongoing right now are still the so called lesser sports.
However, Bode Kenku, a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) said: “The low turnout of spectators cannot be as a result of poor publicity.
“We organised street shows, billboards, banners and radio jingles to announce the Games. The spectators may have other reasons which can be mere apathy.
“But I am optimistic that spectatorship will pick up by next week when events like athletics and boxing will begin”.
Kenku enjoined the sports-loving Lagosians to avail themselves of the opportunity and come out en masse to watch the athletes perform. (NAN)
