Lagos – The Lagos State Government says it is hopeful of setting a world record with the hosting of its maiden U-17 Monopoly Championships in September.
The Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), Deji Tinubu, made the revelation on Wednesday while speaking on the commission’s sports programmes with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
“It is expected that over 2,000 young men and women will participate in the event, and we hope that when we assemble that number, we hope to set a world record.
“It is in line with the state’s vision of creating new vistas in sports for engaging the youth,’’ he told NAN.
Tinubu said that the commission in partnership with Bestman Games would jointly stage the tournament in which the 2,000 students would be drawn from over 200 schools.
He said that the government was ready to partner with any private organisation toward engaging youths actively in sports.
“The private sector brought the idea of the monopoly championship to us and we bought into it because it is a good course to engage our youths and keep them out of vices and criminalities.
“The hosting of the event is now our responsibility and we are through the media spreading the news.
“We have the schools that can tap into this project. Lagos is on the world map again because of the way we are promoting sports.
“In setting that record, we want to get over 2,000 students playing monopoly under one roof at the same time and this will happen at the Molade Okoya Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere.
“We want people who show more commitment by partnering with us; we have shown to the world that we can host world class events successfully in the past,’’ Tinubu said.
The commission’s chairman said that the government had designed a sporting policy that that would encapsulate all sports for the benefit of those that might not be interested in ball games.
“Monopoly is a game for a few, for youths that are not interested in sports that will make them to jump or run.
“The government wants to create a bit of everything that will catch the attention of youths and keep them away from vices and criminalities.
“What monopoly will do for us is what Scrabble, Chess and other board games will do. It is a sport that can involve the
youths actively.
“It provides the avenue for critical thinking, decision making, and financial prudence for youths. So, maybe what we are not getting from one sport we get it from others,’’ Tinubu said.
NAN reports that Lagos State in partnership with Bestman Games will stage the maiden U-17 Monopoly Championships starting from Sept. 17. (NAN)
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