The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 8th National Youth Games, tagged Asaba 2024, has promised to showcase Delta rich tradition as the opening ceremony of the Games holds Wednesday.
Delta is hosting the 8th National Youth Games after staging the 7th edition in 2023.
The Games, which starts on September 9, will run till September 19 at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
Chairman of the LOC, Chief Solomon Ogba, said that Wednesday’s opening ceremony would capture a variety of things, particularly the rich tradition of the people.
“Delta state has a very rich tradition, and we are going to display some of them on Wednesday. As you all know, sports and music go together. Some of our top musicians will be on the ground to thrill the young athletes and visitors on Wednesday,” Ogba stated.
Over 5,000 athletes from different states of the federation are taking part in the Games.
Meanwhile, traders in Asaba and environs are excited with the business opportunities the event presents, and are thankful to the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, for his commitment to sustaining the hosting of the Games in Asaba.
Some of the traders had already stationed their wares and stuff, both within and outside the premises of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, since Friday, September 7, and through the weekend, awaiting the arrival of the contingents.
Many of the traders said they had been anticipating the games to take advantage of the huge business opportunities it presents for them.
“As you can see, we are already setting up and the stadium environment is already bubbling with various businesses as we await the arrival of the state contingents,” one of the traders who simply identified herself as Ugochi enthused.
“You know, business is about numbers, and you can imagine the possible business prospects and turnover with the convergence of over 5,000 athletes and officials for about ten days presents here. This is outside the thousands of spectators who will be flocking in daily for the period of the competition.
“It is a good time for us small businesses because with the atmosphere of the games, in this ten days one can possibly make more than he or she does in four or five months in a corner shop. That is because of the numbers, even if you are selling only pure water.
“The businesses here are diverse, from foods, drinks to clothes, shoes and electronic gadgets, devices and accessories, sundry fashion stuff, household items, artefacts and more.
“Many of the traders here were around during the National Sports Festival and the last Youth Games, and they are back again because business was good. We have been praying for the state to host such an event again, and we are very grateful to the governor for his commitment to hosting the youth games, which has come again with business opportunities.
“The business value chain is long. For instance, those selling food will be going to the bigger markets daily to stock up for the next day. Those in the bigger markets will also be going to the villages to buy more because there are over 10,000 visitors who have to be fed for the ten days of the event, besides the normal residents of Asaba. I imagine that some of us will be getting supplies of food stuff from other local governments outside Delta North even. This is exactly how sports connect with the community to benefit the people. That is why we are grateful to Governor Sheriff.”