News from Abuja Games village Nigeriasports.com reliably gathered that security at the main gates was being provided by combined teams of policemen and the Civil Defence Corps, who were screening visitors to the camp. Some of the athletes and officials, who reported in the village, were seen scrambling for food at some open camps, while others who could not bear the heat in their rooms, sat in groups at their premises. Some of them, who spoke to Nigeriasports.com, complained about electrical faults in their rooms, leading to the malfunctioning of the air-conditioners. Some of the contingents that had already arrived in the village, included 2002 champions, Edo; runners-up, Delta; Bayelsa, Adamawa and the FCT. Borno and Delta state only on Wednesday lived up to pre-tournament rating when they won gold at the opening events of the 14th National Sports festival. Borno got their first gold at the festival beating Edo with a split second in the four kilometre race held at the Airport road. Delta finished third in the highly contested event. Borno clocked 5-mins 29secs while Edo clocked 5-mins 54-secs to get the silver. Delta arrived on 6-mins to win the bronze “Mercenaries came from Lagos and Enugu to enrol for FCT but were rejected. They were the ones trying to distract FCT athletes at the Games Village,” the LOC chairman, Mr. Deji Omatade, told Nigeriasports.com He also stress that such people were always lurking around the Games Village to cause problems, since they failed in their bid to represent the FCT. Omatade, who is the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the FCT, explained the hitches affecting the festival. “Funding has not come because the statutory budget on which the FCT depends has not come,” he explained. He expressed appreciation to the media for highlighting concerns and fears of the FCT athletes, adding that their welfare would be given priority, among other things. N9m boost for Ogun State contingent The state Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chief Fatai Somemimo, Nigeriasports.com gathered says the Gateway state is also planning a N500 million games village, to be constructed in Ijebu-Ode. Sowemimo also noted that over 277 athletes and officials were representing the state in Abuja. The commissioner expressed confidence that the state’s athletes would excel at the sport festival and justify the government expenses on them. Sowemimo pledged the commitment of the state government to sports development. He said that the N500 million games village would comprise halls; fields for games; hostels; clinics; lecture theatres; gymnasium and swimming pool. The games village, he further said, would assist the state in its bid to host the 15th National Sports Festival in 2006. He said, “We hope to use the hosting right to promote sports, our cultural heritage, hospitality, tourism and economic potentials.” The commissioner said that the MKO Abiola Stadium had been rehabilitated. According to him, the state Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has released funds for the repair of the stadium’s tartan tack. Sowemimo disclosed that the state government had approved N4.9 million for the construction of a practising pitch. He said that efforts were being made to ensure that the stadium generated income, adding that its telephone had started functioning 0
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