The 4th edition of the Primary and Secondary School Sports Festival has been flagged off by the Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Senator LiyelImoke, where athletes are discovered from the grassroots and trained to represent the State at the national and international level.
In his speech, the Governor said he is passionate about sports that is why he wants the children to aim high like other children around the globe.
The Governor also commended the Local Government Chairmen for their effort at bringing the children to the event, which is an ideal thing in investing on humans, especially the youth hoping that the programme will be sustained to regain the lost glory of Cross River State.
On his part, the Commissioner for Youth & Sports Development – Mr. Patrick Ugbe enumerated the successes of this programme which began in 2009, explaining that through this initiative, over 4,000 young athletes of school age have been discovered and presently are undergoing training and development to become future champions in different sports.
The Commissioner said, a new focus of our sports development initiative is founded on the principle of "Grassroots Sports Development Strategy" and that it is in realization of this that six sports development centres have been established across the State with two centres in each of the Senatorial Districts of the State.
The Commissioner also said, the Ministry of Youth & Sports is in the process of signing an MOU in partnership with the Ministry of Education with three mission schools that have been selected among the six, to kick-start the programme, reiterating that once this is done, the schools will be prepared to receive the multi-million naira worth of sports equipment that have already been imported and awaiting distribution, and in this process all attention and energies of youths will be directed to viable competitions and gainful activities.
He also said it was on record that, comprehensive sports development programme has recorded a huge success in 2011 when the State hosted the National School Sports Festival and won 1st position for the first time, beating Lagos and other States with 17 Gold, 100 Silver and 89 Bronze medals, and at 5th National School Sports Festival – Port Harcourt 2013, Team Cross River successfully defended its 1st position, beating Delta and Rivers states to 2nd and 3rd position with 89 Gold, 88 Silver and 87 Bronze medals.
Last year he continued, in the 18th edition of the National School Sports Festival, Team Cross River made up of same product of this programme put up a credible performance and was placed 8th overall with 12 Gold, 14 Silver and 23 Bronze medals with a total of 49 medals.
Generally, the Comprehensive Sports Development has revolutionalized sports development in the State, he said, adding that Facilities at the U. J. Esuene Sports Stadium and some identified sports centres have been earmarked for upgrading and development to international standard in readiness for the 2014 National Sports Festival.
The Sports Consultant in the State, Dr. Bruce Ijirigho commended the State Governor for his support on sports and promises to do better in the competition.