RIVERS GETTING SET FOR SPORTS FESTIVAL

Port Harcourt -  Rivers Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye,  says many  facilities for the 17th  National Sports Festival are now ready for use.

The festival tagged, 'Garden City Games,'' is to be hosted by the state  in June at a new games village under construction.

Iyaye in Port Harcourt said that facilities completed at the games village were two swimming pools, diving pools as well as  tennis, handball and basketball courts.

' I can assure you that the stadium is close to completion and most of the facilities are ready.

'Brand new modern swimming pools are completed, one for competition and one for training.

' Diving pools are completed, tennis courts are ready, handball court  is ready ,basketball courts are ready.

' The only aspect of the stadium that is being completed now is the main bowl  where we expect that most of the athletics events will hold.

' So, if you visit the stadium, you will see a lot of work that is being done, '' he said.

The commissioner said the festival was postponed from February  to June because of some national events like the   voter registration and the elections  in April.

' In January,  the National Sports Commission, in conjunction with  the National Council on Sports, postponed the festival from  February  to June and that is as a result of national issues that came up.

' The voter registration  took place then  and we thought that probably it will be for  few months.

' But, we are also aware that the elections will come up in April and that was why the festival was shifted to June,''   he said.

Iyaye explained that government was determined to complete the facilities before  June, expressing  optimism that they would be ready before the festival date.

He said the state was expecting 20,000 participants, comprising athletes and officials. (NAN)