Ibori maintains athletics development pledge

Steadfast and unyielding in her resolve to lend her hand of fellowship in the growth and development of sports, with particular reference to athletics, Mrs Nkoyo Iboyi, wife of Delta State Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, has promised to do it again this year...bring all the Under-20 athletesin the land together in Calabar for a National Championship.

To this end, relevant sub-committees have been set up to sketch out, as it were, modalities, logistics, and innovations that could be added to this year's edition tha t would underscore "our departure from the past" slogan. We gathered that the various sub-committees have been charged to look into the aspects of not just holding a championship, but ensuring that this, would be something different in many aspects.

According to Harrison Ocholor, Personal Assistant (Sports) to the Delta State First Lady, "this year's edition is aimed at further probing for development. The Nkoyo Ibori National Under-20 Athletics Championship, as it were, has been an avenue for the indentification and further grooming of young Nigerian athletes within this age brackets.

"When we say that this edition would be different from the past, we are saying that, deeper probings of the nooks and crannies of the nations are expected to be carried out by the respective States so that, athletes, expected to participate this time around, would be what, permit me to refer to as; 'new brides of the track'.

Ocholor stressed the need for the Championship to be embraced by both public and private sectors. "Her Excellency is doing all within her powers to ensure that, this vision is not blurred by her continued sponsorship. But it would be healthier, more glamorous and more fulfilling in terms of achieving its set objectives if Companies would donate to the course," Ocholor stated.

The event which has been billed to hold at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Mrs Ibori's home state, is expected to run through June 27 to June 29, 2005.

"You can see that we are not kidding at all. The venue is ready, and the dates for the championship, already fixed. We expect that by June 26, all athletes and officials would have reported in Calabar, but let me quickly repeat again, that we expect Organisations to come and lend a helping hand in form of donations," Ocholor emphasized.