NOC thumbs up Gateway Games organisers

According to the President of the NOC, Engr.Habu Gumel, the festival by an appreciable stretch of imagination, lived up to the grandeur envisaged by its organizers. "The Government and peoples of Ogun State, no doubts provided ample opportunities to   athletes from all callings, with talents to showcase them at the event

"We in the Olympic Movement are particularly pleased at the quality of venues and facilities provided for actual competition. We praise the effort by the Government under the leadership of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the Executive Governor of Ogun for braving the odds to host the Games,” Gumel said.

"We also want to use this opportunity to urge future hosts of the festival to improve on what Ogun has done. The state has made a bold statement with the staging of the Games. It has set some standards which we urge future hosts to strive to improve on. "Only then, can we continue positively to improve the quality of Games' delivery in the country.

Gumel also urged  the various state governments, the National and state sports federations and the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social to work hard in order to ensure that many of the new talents identified during the festival are nurtured to standards required to represent the country at major World Games.

He said on their part, the NOC will continue to strive, through the International Olympic Committee to seek financial and technical assistance toward sustained development of the youths through sports.

Gumel added  that Ogun state has scored highly, by being the first host to render an account of its financial commitment to the Games. This is worthy of emulation in promoting financial prudence and accountability being one of the cardinal principles of the present Federal Government.

"That Ogun declared profit after hosting the Games suggests that the partnership with the private sector may be the key to our success in spreading the message of sports. All that will be required are to ensure that dedicated, honest and committed persons are appointed to run the Games and the sky will be the limit,”he explained

"It has also been demonstrated that we can then move on to reduce the tax payer's direct resources towards the growth of sports in the country.

We, however, advice the council of states on sports, the directors of sports and indeed all stake holders that they should evaluate the festival with a view to guarding against areas of conflict as well as observed lapses against future festivals.