The Federal Government says it will revisit the under seventeen age grade for the National Youth Games in the next edition of the games.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made this known at the opening ceremony of the 8th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, tagged Asaba 2024.
The president who was represented by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, said the need to revisit the age grade of the games became imperative following the decline of the nation’s athletes at the global stage.
According to him, the under fifteen age limit for athletes was affecting athletes’ participation, stating that the National Youth Games is devoted to talent hunting and nurturing of young athletes.
He reiterated the role of grassroots sports development in building a strong sports sector, noting that the event plays a pivotal role in the unity and peace of the nation.
While highlighting the significance of grassroots sports development, the President stressed the need for a framework that goes beyond talent identification but a platform that ensures comprehensive nurturing from the grassroots to elite levels of competition.
Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori in an address said his administration would continue to provide the platform for the youths to showcase their talents, pointing out that he is hopeful that new talents would be discovered at the end of the program.
He asserted that the Delta State government would collaborate with the Federal Government in order to achieve the aims of the competition, saying sports remains the only tool to promote peace and unity amongst the states in the country.
The state’s helmsman expressed regrets that sports in the country was declining following the poor nation’s performance in the last Olympics in Paris, France, maintaining that there was need to promote inter-house sports in both primary and secondary school.
He explained that over 6,000 athletes and 1,159 officials have been cleared to participate in this year’s National Youth Games, describing it as an historic event.
Earlier in an address of welcome, chairman Local Organizing Committee, Chief Solomon Ogba called on the athletes and officials to demonstrate the spirit of fair play, urging them to compete clean and abide by the rules of the games.
