For the first time in history, cash reward will be given to the best three placed states at the end of the National Sports Festival.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday added another dimension to the 18th National Sports Festival when he announced that winners of the competition would take home N20 million.
Represented by Vice-President, Nnamadi Sambo, President Jonathan, while declaring festival open at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State, also gave out N15 million and N10 million to second and third placed teams respectively.
He also called on the athletes to display true spirit of sportsmanship throughout the duration of the sports showpiece.
Jonathan said: “I’m pleased to officially declare the National Sports Festival open.
“It was here (Lagos) that the games debuted 39 years ago.
“However, this is the first time Lagos State is hosting the games.
“I enjoin you (athletes) to be magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat.
“I hereby give N20 million, N15 million and N10 million to first, second and third placed states.”
Earlier, the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed optimism that the festival, tagged Eko 2012, would breed future talents for the country.
“We announced after the 2012 Olympic Games that the National Sports Festival will produce new talents that will become part of the elite athletes programme,” Abdullahi said.
He added: “I’m hopeful Eko 2012 will live up to high expectations we have set for it with the keen competition we will see in the next days to come.
“We have a team that will identify the talents.
“The identified athletes will form the bulk of our team for future international tournaments.”
Chief Host of the festival, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, urged the athletes “to compete fairly” and prayed for an injury-free championship for the athletes.”
Also present at the opening ceremony were former Lagos State Governors Bola Tinubu and Mobolaji Johnson; Rivers State Governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi; and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
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