Sports
ABOUT 600 athletes would be participating in the 2023 ‘Ikeja Games’ organised by Rep. James Faleke, (APC -Ikeja) of Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competitions were in partnership with the National Institute for Sports (NIS).
Mr Bayo Ayo, Chairman, Main-Organising Committee in his opening remarks at the news conference to unveil the competition, said the games would start with accreditation of participants of various games.
“The participants will be participating in 10 different sports include; football, basketball, Table Tennis, Chess, Scrabble and Snooker.
“Over 600 athletes will be participating in the 2023 Ikeja Games organised by Faleke, who is the Chairman, Finance Committee of the House of Representatives.
“Other games that will be competed for are Draft, ‘Ayo Olopon’, Ludo and Cards,” he said.
Ayo while unveiling the maiden edition of the games, said the organiser had partnered NIS to ensure the delivery of a well-organised competition.
According to him, the NIS will be working with the main and local organising committees to achieve the milestone.
Ayo said that apart from the presentation of trophies, certificates and medals to the winning teams and individual games, cash prizes would be presented to the winners.
“For the first time, all 600 participants shall be presented with cash stipends as participating fees to boost their morale and encourage them,” he added.
He said the sport ideal had been on the board for over two years and efforts were on to establish a Trust Fund for the games.
Ayo said the focus of the games was to produce sportsmen and women who would grow to become global champions.
He said while the constituency office would be used for the individual games, the two team games venue would be communicated to all participants.
Ayo said the winner of the Football competition would go home with the trophy and N500,000, while the first runner-up would go home with N300,000.
According to him, the second runner-up will get N200,000, while the fourth place will go home with N150,000, as all participating teams will go home with N50,000 each.
“The winner of the individual games will go home with N100, 000, while everyone who registered for the games will go home with stipends,” he said.
Mr Tayo Aderinola, Technical Director of the games, said that athletes were drawn from the 10 wards recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the Ikeja Federal constituency.
Aderinola said the football tournament would be contested by teams representing the respective wards.
Mr Bunmi Oluyadi, the Vice Chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) applauded Faleke for the initiative of the game.
Oluyadi said the game was an opportunity to build the youths in more productive endeavours as it offered an opportunity for youths with God-given talents to showcase and build them for a better rewarding future.(NAN)
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Tags: INEC Mr Bayo Ayo Mr Bunmi Oluyadi Mr Tayo Aderinola Rep. James Faleke
