Over 300 athletes are set to compete for laurels in a maiden edition of the Ogun State Mind Game which kicks-off this Thursday, across the twenty (20) Local Governments Areas of the state.
The Game which includes Chess,Opon-Ayo and Draught, is expected to begin in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area, before moving to the other local governments in the state
The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. (Dr.) Oluwadare Kehinde who unfolded the programmes of activities of the games at a press conference in Abeokuta, explains that the mind game is part of the Prime Objectives of ISEYA agenda of the Prince Dapo Abiodun's administration.
According to him, "Government of His Excellency, Prince (Dr.) Dapo Abiodun MFR regards Youth engagement and empowerment as one of his prime objectives. The ISEYA Agenda has clearly spelt out series of sporting events and activities in ensuring that Ogun State takes the lead in sporting events. The sterling performances by Ogun Athletes in the just concluded Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as well as the 20th National Sports Festival are indestructible evidence of our giant strides in Sports. Our aim is to discover budding talents and nurture them to global space."
He stressed that the importance of the games was to ensure that the youths in the state have analytical mind.
His words,"This competition is designed not just as a grassroot sports to discover budding talents in Chess, Opon - Ayo, & Draught but also as a way to ensure that Ogun Youths have analytical mind and a well -defined and highly sophisticated thought pattern which can unlock any potential."
Also speaking ,the Ogun State Director of Sports, Mrs. Folakemi Iyabode Rotimi reveals that the game is to discover raw talents in the game which will prepare them for national and international standard.
"We engage in grassroots program and which will allow us to nurture athletes to represent the state and the country in the coming future,"she added.
Meanwhile, the chairman Technical Committee of the game, Prince Tunji Onatolu revealed that the game is to allow the rural people to understand sports.
According to him, "In preparation of the state to discover talents to represent the state at national sports festival was the brain of this mind game, to allow the rural people understand what is called sports and to ensure the sports council discover new talents that could be nurtured for the National sports festival, this is to compete with Delta and Edo states.
The winners at local government level will go home with cash reward.
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