•Future Olympic champions will be raised from the festival

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

No fewer than 756 primary and post primary schools in Anambra State have indicated interest to take part in the 2024 edition of the Schools Sports Festival.

This was announced by the Chairman, Anambra State Sports Development Commission, (ASSDC), Mr Patrick Estate Onyedum during a press conference held at the Conference hall of the Government House to herald the 2024 Anambra State Schools Sports tagged, ANSSI 2024.

He said that the students will compete in 12 sporting events which include, Athletics, Swimming, Basketball, Scrabble, Football, Chess, Table Tennis, Taekwando, Tennis, Volleyball, Ncho and Cricket.

Onyedum said: “We shall have these games in three categories which are Under 12, 14 and 18 at the community Local Government Area, Senatorial District and climax at State level. The Sports Commission will continue to support them especially in the area of sports infrastructure.

“Already, the preparation for this year’s National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State has started and the young and raw talents that will be discovered from this festival will constitute up to 85 percent of Anambra Team to that Games.

“In 2023, about 600 primary and secondary schools registered and participated in the Sports Festival and I want to gladly inform you that it was not only a success, it has been yielding fruitful results. As I speak to you, some of those SE athletes are on academic scholarships in some of the best schools in Abuja and Anambra.”

Speaking at the event, the Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has disclosed plans by his government to use sports as a means to curb crime in the state by engaging youths and students to effectively utilize their talents for a better society

The governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, said that future World Champions and Olympians would be nurtured in the course of the games.

He noted that those already discovered during the first edition of the annual Schools competition are already doing well and winning laurels at both national and international sports games.

On his part, the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Patrick Agha-Mbah stressed that sports have been reinvented by the incumbent administration as a means to creating a liveable and prosperous State.

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