A total of 14,000 athletes are expected to compete at the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development on Monday gave the figure and others details in a statement.
The statement, signed by Mohammed Manga, its Director of Press and Public Relations, quoted Sunday Dare, Minister of the FMYSD, as saying that he was optimistic the competition will expose new set of athletes that will compete favourably with their counterparts globally.
“I am optimistic that at the end of the competition, budding talents will emerge and the country will witness more podium performances through them in subsequent global competitions,” Dare said
The Minister also commended the Delta State Government for its dogged determination towards ensuring the reality of the 21st NSF.
While stressing that the Games will also help in strengthening the unity of Nigerians, Dare called on participating states to go all out for medals.
Dare called on all sports loving Nigerians to create time to grace the festival, saying that the National Sports Festival is the “Nigerian Olympics”.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that 36 states and the FCT will be competing in over 30 different sports in the Festival beginning from Monday to December 10.
