23rd November, 2012
The Plateau Commissioner for Sports Development, James Yakubu, said that a contingent of 399 athletes and officials would represent the state at the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos State.
Yakubu, who disclosed this in Jos, said the athletes would feature in 23 sports.
He said the state government had provided what would make the athletes comfortable, to enable them to be able to perform at their very best at the 14-day fiesta.
According to him, government had taken delivery of sports equipment needed for the festival and has released funds for the payment of athletes’ allowances, as well as their other needs.
The commissioner, who said the issue of accommodation and other logistics had been taken care of, charged the athletes to reciprocate the government’s gesture by wining laurels.
He announced that a sum of N500, 000 was being set aside as reward for athletes that would win medals.
“We have made available N500, 000 as an on-the-spot reward for athletes who will win medals. It is a way of encouraging the athletes toward a result-oriented outing,” he said.
Yakubu said the contingent would surpass its 12th position at the 17th edition of the Games, tagged “Garden City Games,” in Port Harcourt in 2011.
He disclosed that Gov. Jonah Jang would on Friday address the athletes ahead of their trip to Lagos.