Calabar – Participants at the ongoing National Council on Sports in Calabar have resolved that the 19th National Sports Festival be held in Calabar from Nov. 8 to Nov. 21, 2016.
They also resolved that the second edition of the National Youth Games be hosted by the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) in Kwara State with 22 sports on the bill.
They made the proposal on Saturday after deliberating on separate memorandum presented by the Cross River Government and the Grassroots Sports Development Directorate of the National Sports Commission.
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Dr Ademola Are, Director Grassroots Sports, had told the technical session of the council held at Tinapa Resort that Unilorin had proposed a date for the games
He also urged states to develop grassroots sports by organising events at least in one sport annually, adding that the games were conceived as an event to balance sports, culture and education.
He said the games’ objectives included building a robust grassroots talent pool as well as enhancing and elevating sports globally and regionally.
He told the session that the national youth games also had the objective of establishing a standard programme for athletes’ succession from one generation to another.
Mr Asu Okang, the Cross River Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, said that no less than eight venues had been slated for the “Paradise Games’’.
He also said that no less than 27 sports were slated for the games.
The technical session was chaired by Alhassan Yakmut, the Director-General, National Sports Commission. (NAN)
