Thirty-five states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory will be taking part in the eighth edition of the National Youth Games which got underway in Asaba, Delta state yesterday.
According to documentation and registration for the Games by states, only Rivers state did not indicate interest of participation at the Games.
Earlier in Tuesday morning, Team Kwara unveiled kit wears for athletes at the Games.
Arrival of states continent is ongoing, as information had it that screening of athletes will take place today, while official opening ceremony holdson Thursday.
Kwara state will be parading 144 athletes, 25 coaches and 61 officials for the Games.
The athletes will compete in 24 sports events, which are athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, cricket, cycling, darts, deaf athletics, fives, golf, judo, karate, para-athletics, para-table tennis and rugby.
Others are scrabble, squash, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting and taekwondo.
Briefing newsmen ahead of Team Kwara departure, the Executive Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Mallam Bolakale Adisa Magaji said that the athletes and the events to be competed for were carefully selected after a closed and open camping.
Recalling that the state came 5th in the last edition, Mallam Magaji said that the Games will not be for jamboree, as he pledged that the athletes will make.the state proud in Asaba.
“I want to thank His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his support in ensuring that the state sustains its representation in the Games. I equally want to commend the Kwara State House of Assembly, especially the House Committee on Sports, for their support.
“And for the athletes, they should see this as an honour to represent their state, and therefore, I am urging them to be good ambassadors of the state before, during and after the Games.
“As a way of motivating the athletes, on my own, I am pledged a reward of instant N10, 000 for gold medalists in Asaba, and N7, 000 and N5, 000 respectively, to silver and bronze medalists.
