16 June 2011
Plateau State will be represented by 248 athletes and 350 officials at the 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt, an official said.
The festival will take place from June 27 to July 11.
Rebecca Kumbut, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sports said on Thursday in Jos that the athletes would be accompanied by officials comprising coaches and support staff.
Kumbut said that the athletes would participate in 22 events.
According to her, the contingent will be in closed camp in preparation for the games for 12 days and will move to Port Harcourt from there.
She said that adequate arrangements had been made for the transportation of the athletes to Port Harcourt.
Kumbut explained that some money had been released by Gov. Jonah Jang for the team, adding that the governor had promised to pay the balance before the team’s departure for the Games.
The permanent secretary implored the athletes to reciprocate the government’s gesture by performing well.
Esther Sunwar, the Director, Research and Planning, Plateau Sports Council informed that the athletes had been in open camp in the last seven weeks before moving to closed camp.
Sunwar said that the closed camping was meant for intensive training and to perfect strategies.
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