By IHECHINYERE CHIGEMERI-UWOM

The CLIMM Track and Field Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has reaffirmed its commitment to reviving the Southeast region’s lost glory in athletics by grooming young talents through its annual championship.

The Operational Manager of the event and a co-founder of the foundation, Mr Leo Okoroafo, said this on Friday while addressing newsmen during the fifth edition of the organisation’s annual championship tagged ”CLIMM Track and Field Championship”, in Umuahia.

Okorafo, who is a British Army personnel and an ex-international decathlete, said that the event targets over 500 school children drawn from across the region.

He said that the foundation, established in 2021 by five ex-international athletes, was inspired by the need to revive athletics at the grassroots and mentor young talented athletes.

According to him, CLIMM is an acronym formed from their initials, Clement Chukwu, Leo Okorafor, Innocent Iheme, Mike Okaha, and Mba Uduma, each a former Nigerian national athlete.

Okorafo said that the initiative also honoured their late grassroots coach, Tobias Igwe, who discovered and nurtured several top Nigerian athletes, including him and the other founders of the foundation.

He noted that two athletes discovered from the foundation’s first edition were now on athletic scholarships in the United States, while others receive stipends and skill training.

“What we are doing goes beyond competition, because we are investing in education and vocational training to ensure these athletes have something to fall back on,” Okoroafo said.

He commended Gov. Alex Otti of Abia for his strong support for sports, describing him as a leader committed to developing every sporting discipline in the state.

Okoroafo explained that the foundation decided to hold the event in Abia due to the government’s consistent encouragement and improved sporting infrastructure.

Also, the Director of Sports, Abia Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Obioma George, said the initiative complemented government efforts to promote youth empowerment through sports.

He lauded the ex-athletes for giving back to society, saying their commitment aligned with the state’s new policy direction in sports under the present administration.

George described the late Igwe as Nigeria’s best grassroots athletics trainer, adding that the foundation’s remembrance of him kept his legacy alive.

He said that Abia’s renewed sports culture had placed the state back on the national map, noting that local athletes now competed in international tournaments, including the African School Games.

George further revealed that the state would soon host the National Volleyball Division One League and the maiden Abia State Tertiary Institutions Games involving about 38 institutions in the state.

He urged youths to embrace sports as a path to excellence and discipline, stressing that the CLIMM Championship helped to steer young people away from drugs and crime.

In separate interviews with newsmen, some participants at the event thanked the organisers for providing youths with a platform to pursue their dreams of becoming professional athletes.

A secondary school student, Miss Merit Erumele, described the championship as a laudable initiative that would help young people interested in athletics to develop their skills.

Another student, Miss Judith Ezea, expressed delight at being part of the event and appreciated the organisers for the opportunity.

The event featured 4×100 metres relay, shot put, and long jump competitions for school children drawn from various secondary schools across the Southeast geopolitical zone. (NAN)