SUNDAY VANGUARD, NOVEMBER 17, 2013—53
Gov Imoke accepts nomination for Nigerian Sports Award
Group launches Indoor Game to enshrine democratic values
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OVERNOR Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has accepted his nominations for the Sports Governor of the year award in the 2013 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award. The Governor was presented with the nomination letter by the Chairman of the Award Panel, Mr. Ikeddy Isiguzo at the executive chambers of the Governor’s office during a special reception organized by the state government for the victorious Golden Eaglets. Speaking during the presentation of the nomination letter to the Governor, Mr Isiguzo stated that the nomination of Imoke for the Sports Governor of the year award is a clear testimony to the immense contribution of the Governor to sports development not only in the state but the nation as a whole. Isiguzo explained that the Sports Governor of the year category of the award is being given for the first time in the 2013 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award to recognize and reward a deserving Governor for excellence in sports devel-
YES, YES, YES.... Executive support for the Eagles was not lacking yesterday as host, Gov. Liyel Imoke (left) leads Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi (2nd left) and NFF President, Aminu Maigari (3rd left) to celebrate Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi opment. In his response, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke thanked sports loving Nigerians for the nomination and commended the organisers of the award while calling for support for him to win the category. “On behalf of the good people of Cross River State, I want to sincerely thank Nigerians for
this nomination for the Sports Governor of the year award and thank you the organizers, all of you please vote for me” he said. Governor Liyel Imoke and his counterparts, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state are the three nominees in the race for the Sports Governor of the
year award. The 2013 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award which is the second edition will hold on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at the Muson Centre, Lagos. The Minister of Sport Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi and the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Honourable Gbenga Elegbeye are some of the dignitaries expected at the event.
BY CALEB AYANSINA N Indoor Game called ‘Democracy Game’ to propagate values of democracy globally has been launched by a body known as Indoor Games Investors and Producers Ltd. At the launching of the game, weekend, in Abuja, the Chairman of Democracy Game Committee, Prof. Adekunle Akinyemi said the game was invented by Nigerian in 1994, and it had to pass through processes to ensure that it conforms to the international standard. Akinyemi described the game as “an educative, informative and entertaining master piece, as well as potent weapon to unify multifarious groups, the Nigerian nation is comprised of.” According to him, “the game incorporates the three tiers of government and the three arms of government, and has been beautifully decorated with the names and pictures of over 500 leaders and citizens. “There is an instruction on the card and it is explanatory enough just like the monopoly, you don’t need the designer to tell you how to play it. So, when you read these instructions you will be able to play the game.” He maintained that they would organize state and local competitions, and probably push forward for it to be included in the all African game, to spread the necessity of democracy in the African continent. Presenting the games on board and on cards, a member of the committee, Prof. Abiodun Akinpelu from Lagos State University (LASU) explained that “the game is to make democracy a household issue, make it all involving and participatory, it’s not meant for a particular level of Nigerians, it’s meant for all, democracy has to do with government of the people by the people and for the people. “So, this is for all, everybody should be involved, we want to groom our children to become meaningful politicians who will want to emulate the good ones. That is why we put the pictures there and make sure that we play the game according to the rule, because democracy has to do with rules.”
Orphanage Homes Sports Festival begins A
UNIQUE sports festival for orphans in Nigeria tagged Orphanage Homes Sports Festival Nigeria will be beginning in Abuja on Tuesday, courtesy of Challenged Children Charity Foundation (3CF), in partnership with the National Sports Commission (NSC). At the OHSFN fund raising dinner, held at the Ladi
Kwali Hall, Abuja Sheraton Hotels and Towers, represen-tative of the DirectorGeneral of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Gbenga Elegbeleye, Alhassan Saleh Yakmut, who is the director grassroots sports development of the commission, described the festival as cogent, that will give voice to the
From left, Adigun Yussuf, Captain, ABS Street Team, Mosan Okunola LCDA, Lagos,( winner Male category), Anouar Idrissi, Managing Director, Football Centre, Dubai, UAE, Kunle Abioye, Team Coach, ABS Street Team and Taiwo Oyetade, Coordinator ABS Street Team at Football Centre, Dubai during the training tour of winners of MTN Lagos Street Soccer 6 in UAE. C M Y K
voiceless. He said that the organizers, Challenged Children Foundation (3CF) did a unique thing b choosing sports as a tool of giving the children a sense of belonging. “3CF identified with an international activity – sports that is a well known universal language. Whether an individual is tall or short, the business of sports is a business of everybody. The Commonwealth Charter has even states that sports is a fundamental right, making it important for everybody to have an enabling environment to engage in sporting activities. “Today’s act is unique act for unique people that the Lord is happy with. Express way to Heaven in the Holy Quran can be assessed when assistance is rendered to orphans and the quickest way to hell is when you mess up with an orphan,” he emphasized. He explained that the NSC earlier made a pledge of one million naira for the festival but would be reviewing it upwards in view of the importance attached to the project.
Also speaking, human rights activist and former member of the House of Assembly, Honourable Dino Melaye said that it was unfortunate that the only time Nigerians remember the physically challenged is when it is time for them to represent the
country at Paraly-mpics, describing the act as unfair. He called on Nigerians and public spirited individuals to make deliberate efforts at touching the lives of orphans, if Nigeria were to make any meaningful progress. Speaking to our Sports correspond-ence,
Coordinator of 3CF, Barriste MrsUgonna Uzor Kalu said that the maiden edition of the festival will feature two sports; athletics and football, while subsequent editions will include three other sports, basketball, volleyball and table tennis.
Portland hosts 2016 World Indoors
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ORTLAND in the United States and Birmingham in Great Britain will host the next two World Indoor Athletics Champio-nships, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) said Friday. Portland will host the championships in 2016 with Birmingham picked for 2018. It will be the first time since the 1987 World Indoors in Indianapolis that the United States hosts a major intern-ational athletics event, although track and field was of course part of the programme at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. The next edition of the event will be in Sopot in Poland in March.
The IAAF is in Congress in Monaco, where they will hold their annual gala today.
They also decided to award the 2016 half-marathon World Championships to Cardiff.