Ogun State is set to welcome the Torch of Unity for the National Sports Festival on Thursday, May 15, ahead of the festival’s opening in Abeokuta on Friday.
The torch, which has toured all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, will be received during a brief ceremony at the Sagamu Interchange, according to the state’s Commissioner for Sports Development, Wasiu Isiaka.
“We’re expecting the Torch of Unity on Thursday. It will be welcomed officially at Sagamu Interchange before the games begin on Friday,” Isiaka told PUNCH Sports Extra.
President Bola Tinubu flagged off the torch relay in Abuja on March 26. At the launch, he praised sports as a powerful tool for unity, youth development, and economic growth.
The 2024 edition of the National Sports Festival, also known as the Gateway Games, will be hosted by Ogun State. The government has promised to make it the best in the event’s 52-year history.
“We’re fully prepared and committed to delivering the best National Sports Festival Nigeria has ever seen,” Isiaka said during a tour of the main venues — MKO Abiola Stadium and Alake Sports Centre — where events like handball and other indoor games will be held.
More than 15,000 athletes are expected to compete in various individual and team events. A total of 2,150 medals will be awarded across 549 events, including 626 gold, 626 silver, and 898 bronze medals.
A new feature of this year’s festival is the introduction of a category for junior athletes, allowing young talents to compete alongside more experienced sportsmen and women on a national platform.
