Gateway Games: Ogun ready to host best festival- Abiodun
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said that preparations for the successful hosting of the National Sports Festival are in top gear as finishing touches are being put on the facilities at the designated centers.
Abiodun made this known during an assessment tour of the M.K.O Abiola Stadium and the Alake Sports Centre, in Abeokuta,
He said the construction of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and a handball court behind the main bowl of the MKO Abiola Stadium was nearing completion, while the facilities at the Alake Sports Centre are at various stages of completion.
The governor said: “The last time we visited the swimming pool site, it was at the foundation level, but there is a lot of construction in progress. The construction will allow us to make corrections; it will allow for inputs and suggestions.
“I am glad that starting from the MKO Abiola Stadium, where we saw the track is already in place, the field is about 80 percent completed. The warm-up hold, the main bowl, the handball courts, and the tennis courts are at advanced stages of completion.
“Coming to the Alake Sports Centre, it is like night and day compared to what was obtained the last time we came here. I would say that this facility is probably at about 95 percent completion, and I am confident that we are well prepared to host Nigerian youths. We are adequately positioned to host the best National Sports Festival in the history of the games.”
He maintained that though there is still some work to be done, no stone would be left unturned in the provision of all the required infrastructure before the commencement of the festival.
He said the renovation of the sports facilities in the state has begun to yield benefits as the African Athletics Federation has chosen Ogun State to host the athletics competition in 2026 for the Under-20.
Abiodun also disclosed that his administration has chosen to construct a pavilion behind the MKO Abiola Stadium to cater to other non-sporting events, with the main bowl of the stadium dedicated only to sporting events.
