Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Oluwatoyin Gafaar has charged athletes and officials to reflect excellence as the contingent stormed Asaba, Delta State, soutj-south Nigeria for the 7th National Youth Games.
Competing in 33 individual and team sports events, Lagos will be represented by 299 athletes, with the hope of improving on the team’s second placed finish at the last edition.
The team concluded their camping on Wednesday before departing Lagos on Thursday with athletes in high spirit, ready to compete and make the state proud at the games holding in Asaba, Delta State.
Independent News Express reports that the athletes and officials arrived safely in Asaba Thursday in high spirit ready forthe competition which gets underway this weekend.
The Director General urged the athletes to give their best while assuring that the state government will continue to support talents to reach the pinnacle of their careers.
Wishing the contingent a successful outing in Asaba, Gafaar who was in Bariga, venue of the team’s closed camp admonished the athletes to stay away from drugs and coaches to put in more effort to ensure that Lagos surpass previous achievements at the games.
He emphasized that Lagos State will compete fairly with eligible athletes and consolidate on the progress made by state through various grassroots development programmes and talent discovery initiatives.
Gafaar maintained that the athletes who are within the stipulated age and expressed optimism that Lagos will do well at the Games.
Team Lagos finished second behind Team Delta with 72 medals at the last edition of the games held in 2021 in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The 10 days fiesta will end on September 30.
