The Niger State contingent to the 8th National Youth Games (NYG) would not aim to win at all cost but to use the event as a platform to develop future athletes for the state.
Alhaji Baba Sheshi, Director, Sports, Ministry for Sports Development, said this this on Tuesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.
NAN reports that the 8th NYG is scheduled for September 9 to 19 in Asaba.
“The NYG is a programme that is geared toward discovering young athletes for Niger state and Nigeria.
“Therefore winning at all cost is not the aim of the games, rather producing an opportunity for young athletes to be identified to represent the State and the country in future competitions.
“These young athletes will form part of the state team and the national team of Nigeria,” Sheshi said.
He said many of the athletes that represented Nigeria at the just concluded Olympics are the products of the first edition of the NYG.
According to him, winning medals at all cost does not matter in the NYG, what is important is to give athletes free hand to showcase their talents and become better athletes in the future.
“You will agree with me that many of the current athletes that represented the country at the just concluded Olympics are products of the first edition of the NYG,” he said.
The Director said that the state was ready to participate in the competition as athletes and officials are well prepared.
“We are going to Asaba to win medals for Niger state and to develop future athletes for the state and the country.
“We are sure about the performance of our athletes and coaches because they really prepared for the games,” he said
He said the state contingent of 90 athletes and 25 officials had already left Minna for Asaba.
Sheshi said that the state would participate in 15 games during the competition, which include basketball male, basketball female, handball, hockey and athletics.
Others include, scramble, taekwondo, judo, kickboxing, wrestling, weightlifting, gulf, badminton, tennis and table tennis.
He enjoined the athletes and officials to be good ambassadors of the state and the country at large by following the rules of the games.
“We want them to behave like people from good families and remember that they are the future leaders of tomorrow.
“Whatever they do during the games will go a long way to determine their future and the future of the country.
“We want them to shun vices such as drug enhancement, age-cheating and other shortcuts to win during the games,” he said.
NAN also reports that 36 sports would be competed for during the games with the age limit put at under 15 years. (NAN)
