Athletes and officials of Team Lagos arrived Ilorin, capital of Kwara State, north-central Nigeria ahead of their participation in the 5th National Youth Games (NYG) which holds from 7-17 September 2019.
The contingent was in high spirit when they arrived in a convoy of buses at the University of Ilorin Friday evening. The athletes were lodged at two private hostels inside the University of Ilorin; Arafims Private Hostel (male) and Bethany Private Hostel (female).
Team Lagos, which comprises 248 athletes 45 coaches and 65 other officials, who including medical personnel, association secretaries etc, left Lagos Friday morning after they had received pep talks from both the Executive Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr Kweku Tandoh and the Director-General, Mr Oluwatoyin Gafaar at the CMS Grammar School Hostel in Bariga, venue of their closed camp.
Lagos State is the first to arrive for the NYG, which is meant for athletes within 15 years of age.
The early arrival, according to Dr Tandoh, as Lagos State Sports Commission’s plan to allow the athletes, who have to be in closed camp training in the past days, to acclimatize and settle in before the competitions begin.
Before departing for Ilorin, Dr Tandoh encouraged the athletes to reflect excellence in all their actions, on and off the field of play and also practice fair play as they are representatives and ambassadors of Lagos State the “Centre of Excellence”.
The Director-General reminded the athletes that their participation in the Games is not to win at all costs, but show Nigeria that Lagos is best known for its developmental programs that take care of the future progression of the athletes. “You should learn to work hard and pray as prayer speeds the process,” he said.
Mr Gafaar informed the athletes that all their needs for the Games have been provided by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
