The Director of Sports activities, Defence Headquarters, AVM Abidemi Marquis, says no fewer than 1,600 athletes will compete within the forthcoming Armed Forces Video games, 2024. Marquis mentioned this whereas addressing a press briefing relating to the video games, which is able to happen from the twenty third to the twenty seventh of September in Kaduna.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) studies that the theme of the occasion is: “Enhancing Navy Professionalism By Sports activities.” Marquis, who additionally serves because the Chairman of the Native Organising Committee for the video games, added that 19 sporting occasions can be contested.
He defined that the Organisation of African Navy Sports activities awarded Nigeria the internet hosting rights for the African Navy Video games 2024, to be held in Abuja. The chairman mentioned the primary version was held in Kenya 22 years in the past, and since then, Nigeria has been unable to host it because of ongoing safety challenges throughout that interval.
Marquis recalled that in 2023, the instant previous Chief of Defence Employees (CDS), Gen. Fortunate Irabor, agreed to host the occasion in Abuja. “The present CDS, being a lover of sports activities, accepted to host the occasion on the similar venue,” he mentioned.
Marquis famous that the video games would function trials, the place the most effective athletes can be chosen to signify Nigeria’s Armed Forces within the African Navy Video games. The African video games, he mentioned, can be held from November 18 to 30 in Abuja.
“The target of the video games is to pick our group that may signify Nigeria throughout the African Navy Video games in Abuja,” he added. The chairman additionally defined that the CDS selected Kaduna to host the occasion as a part of his contribution to impression the state’s financial system.
He invited all sports-loving folks of Kaduna State to be a part of the competitors, stating that it was open to all. He counseled Gov. Uba Sani for providing some venues for the Armed Forces to host the occasion. These embody the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Murtala Sq., NDA, NAF Base, and a non-public vary for the competitors.
Talking particularly in regards to the forthcoming African Navy Video games, Marquis disclosed that 44 African nations have up to now indicated their curiosity in being a part of the video games. He mentioned that between November 17 and 18, there can be a scientific sports activities convention the place varied thematic areas associated to sports activities can be mentioned.
“We have now invited erudite students, front-line professors, and practitioners within the sporting ecosystem to ship papers on the Armed Forces Officers Mess in Abuja. Members of the general public are invited to current papers by visiting the web site of the African Navy Video games. The time limit for the submission of papers is the thirtieth of this month.
“If one is all in favour of submitting a paper and interesting with us intellectually relating to what we have to do to advance sports activities in Nigeria, we’re open,” he mentioned.
Stressing the impression of internet hosting and taking part in worldwide sporting occasions, he mentioned that that is why most nations battle tooth and nail to win the internet hosting rights of such occasions.
“About 3,000 athletes and officers can be coming to Abuja throughout this era, financial actions will thrive, and it’ll mission Nigeria positively, highlighting its power in sporting occasions,” Marquis mentioned.
NAN additionally studies that the sporting actions to be contested within the Armed Forces Video games 2024 embody volleyball and basketball. Others are garden tennis, golf, monitor and discipline, fight swimming, impediment crossing, taekwondo, and kickboxing, amongst others.
