A total of 8,259 athletes and officials have been confirmed for this year’s National Sports Festival, with only Ebonyi State yet to fulfill registration formalities up till the close of work on Tuesday.
Sports247.ng gathered that Ebonyi State stand the risk of missing out on the competition in Abuja, as secretary of the festival’s main organizing committee, Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi said only the accredited ones would be allowed to participate.
Kulu-Akinyemi confirmed that 35 states registered for the festival except Ebonyi, but stressed that everything is now set for the 19th edition of the festival to start on Thursday, December 6 in Abuja.
The MOC scribe, who is also director of planning, implementation and information management of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said the organizing committees are in the final stages of preparation.
She disclosed further that the arrival of state contingents at the Games Villages commenced on Tuesday.
Kulu-Akinyemi further said: “We are good to go and we are just putting finishing touches to our preparation.
“Our facilities are ready. The Games villages are ready and the states are set for arrival.
“At the close of the Delegates Registration Meeting, only Ebonyi State was missing.
“Once you sign up at the DRM, it means you’re ready to present your athletes and officials for the games and that has been done.
“We have 8,259 athletes and officials taking part in the 19th National Sports Festival.
“The Games Services Management Committee has already mapped out where the states will stay and the states can only access the Games villages when they pay their registration fees.
“We are happy to announce that states, especially those with large contingents, are responding very well, so we are ready for the games.”
