Ogun State, hale and hearty for 2006 Games

In a swift gesture as if to further solidify his claims, the Professor of Sports Psychology went on, fingering:  "The Games Village which is expected to house all athletes and officials to the Games, would be completed in December 2005.  The complex is located on the Abeokuta/Ibadan Express Road; there is a 100 Housing Units meant to serve as the Media Centre of Village for Journalists to the Games which is almost ready here in Abeokuta.

"In Ijebu-Ode, a few kilometres from Abeokuta, the construction of a 25,000-seater stadium, with all modern amenities, is also close to completion. Infact, the contractors could be said to be in the final phases; for swimming events at the Games, there are lots of standard Pools in the capital for that and for the combat sports such as, Judo, Karate, Taekwondo, and others, there are the Ijeja Sportshall and the Abeokuta Grammar School hall."

Professor Omotayo, who doubles as the Sports Consultant to the Ogun Executive Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, also told nigeriasports.com that, ''we have more than enough facilities...so it is not a matter of facilities; rather, it is a matter of the Games getting started in April, 2006.  We are ready to host the country's athletes and their officials."

He stressed that the purpose of hosting such Games, is to spread sports facilities across the State and ''that is what we are doing right now.  We want every nook and cranny of Ogun State to at least, have a feel of the sports festival.  It is another way of spreading development and we have taken cognisance of this fact in the creation of venues for the Sports Festival."

Omotayo is of the view that, the last Sports Festival hosted by Abuja was government-driven,while that of Ogun State, will be basically a private sector-driven event.  "This explains why we have lined-up a lot of activities, which are aimed at wooing sponsors and sourcing for funds for the Games.  You can see the cars out there" (pointing at a direction where some cars were parked)" they were donated by a private organization."