Preparations are in gear for the 7th National Youth Games scheduled for Asaba, the Delta State Capital, with a lot of developments as regards technical set-up taking place daily.
The event lined up for September 7th to September 17, 2023, has seen a lineup of no fewer than 30 sports penned down for the Games which aim at discovering and nurturing talented athletes, propelling them towards future stardom.
The wide range of sports disciplines to be featured according to a document made available to Platinum News includes Athletics, Gymnastics, Para-Table Tennis, Badminton, Handball, Boxing, Basketball, Hockey, Table Tennis, Beach Volleyball, Karate, and Tennis.
In addition to these, the Games will also showcase Canoeing, Para-athletics, Taekwondo, Chess, Squash, Scrabble, Cycling, Swimming, Volleyball, Football, Judo, Weightlifting, Golf, Rugby, and Wrestling.
Also in the document are proposed venues to be used for the 10-day event are West-End Secondary School, Government House Squash Court, Cynotaph, Ibori Golf Course, Stephen Keshi Stadium – mainbowl, indoor sports halls, swimming pool and others. Other proposed venues are Hockey Pitch, Opanam; Ogwashi/Admiralty University, Ibusa Asaba Express, Lander Brothers and Asaba Stadium.
This diverse selection ensures that participants have ample opportunities to showcase their skills and compete in their respective specialities.
Since its inception, the National Youth Games have served as a platform for identifying promising young athletes who possess the potential for future greatness.
The inaugural edition took place in Abuja, and subsequently, Kwara State hosted the event. However, for the seventh edition, the Ministry of Youth decided to award the hosting rights to Delta State.
The previous edition of the Games featured a total of 37 sports events, with Delta State emerging as the overall champion. Their impressive performance yielded an impressive haul of 60 gold medals, 26 silver medals, and 28 bronze medals. This remarkable victory marked their sixth consecutive triumph in the National Youth Games, solidifying their status as a powerhouse in youth sports development.
Coming in second place was Team Lagos, securing 19 gold medals, 25 silver medals, and 28 bronze medals. Edo State secured the third position with 18 gold medals, 10 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals. The intense competition among these states demonstrates the depth of talent present across the country.