Guardian

IN its bid to unearth athletes that will become world beaters in their early twenties, the National Sports Commission (NSC) will from next year organise an annual national U-17 Games.

According to the Special Assistant to the Minister of Sports and Chairman, NSC, Bolaji Abdullahi, Julius Ogunro, the national U-17 Games, ‘’will lead to the early discovery of new and budding talents in Nigeria. The National Sports Festival (NSF) has not played this role effectively. The average age of medalists at the NSF is 24. While the average age and entry point for athletes in international sporting competitions is 19-20, depending on the discipline. At 24, the athletes discovered at NSF are at a disadvantage because of their age and may not have many ‘sporting years’ left.’’

Ogunro revealed that the National Under-17 Games would be an annual event with the first games starting next year (2013).

The Games will be organised by the NSC in a state to be announced soon, said Ogunro, “It will be fully funded by the Commission. Accommodation, transportation and feeding of the athletes will be the responsibility of the Commission’’

The recently reconstituted Nigeria Academicals Sports Committee (NASCOM) headed by Yemi Idowu, the son of late doyen of professional football in Nigeria, late Chief Nath Idowu will take the lead in the organisation of the games. They will work with other organisations like Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) and Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) to organise qualifying games in states and zones, which will culminate in the National Under-17 Games.

Ogunro said the games would help with the early discovery of new talents who will then be groomed for elite sporting events.

“The annual games will provide a new vehicle for young Nigerians to participate in sports at the national level. Nigeria will also have more time to groom athletes with potentials to be world beaters. The competition will help with the discovery of athletes who are at their prime or who are about to reach their prime, it will contribute to the development of the sporting federations with the annual production of new talents,” Ogunro said.