The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, on Friday in Benin described the facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in the City as world-class..
Dare, after inspecting the facilities alongside Gov. Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, said the Obaseki-led Edo government had set a standard in Nigeria with them.
“I can’t ask for more and sports men and women can’t ask for better facilities than what we have here at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
“The facilities and equipment here excite the athletes as the facilities are comparable to what you find anywhere in the world.
“This is a revamp of sports facilities of global standard never seen before anywhere in the country.
“This is a standard and model that raises the bar for any other state that wants to revamp its sports facilities,” he said.
The minister also expressed satisfaction with the facilities on ground for the 2020 National Sports Festival (NSF) slated to hold between April 2 and April 14.
“I am satisfied with what I have seen here today (Friday) and most of our athletes will be ready to compete here and set new personal and world records,” he said.
Dare assured the state government of Federal Government’s financial support to enable it properly host the festival following the paucity of funds occasioned by the several postponments.
Earlier, Gov. Obaseki had said the state was ready for the festival having put in place world-class facilities.
“From what we have seen here today (Friday), it’s clear that these are world-class facilities, and we are ready to host a world-class event.
“Every sport listed in the festival has world-class facilities to cater for it. The facilities match whatever you have across the globe.
“We are ready, and accommodation is ready. What we need now is the funding to host, feed and move athletes around,” he said.
Nigerian Olympian, Mary Onyali, who was on the minister’s entourage, expressed delight at the facilities at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
She said they were comparable with what anyone would find in developed nations.
“You can’t find anything better than this right now in the South of Sahara. These facilities are world-class and all you need is for you to be here at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
“These facilities cater for more than 1,000 athletes a year and you know what that will do for our sports,” she said.(NAN)
