The Abia Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Nwaobilor Ananaba, states that the forthcoming Governor’s Secondary School Unity Games will be used to identify, nurture, and develop young athletes into international stars.

Mr Ananaba said this on Thursday, while briefing journalists in Umuahia on the objective of the second edition of the competition.

He said that the competition, scheduled between July 29 and August 1, was meant to reawaken sports in schools, in line with Governor Alex Otti’s vision to “catch them young”.

He said that the athletes discovered would represent the state at both national and international sporting events.

According to him, the talents discovered during the first edition of the competition represented the state at the 2024 National Youth Games in Asaba and the recently concluded National Sports Festival in Ogun.

The commissioner said that no fewer than 780 athletes from the 17 council areas would participate in 28 sporting activities at the event.

“The governor also wanted us to introduce sports that are not popular, to use the competition to empower our youths. We have a good structure now to identify, nurture, and make them fantastic athletes,” Mr Nwaobilor said.

He said that the participants in the competition, billed for the Umuahia Township Stadium, are champions at their various local council levels.

Mr Nwaobilor expressed the readiness and excitement of the organisers as well as the athletes, saying, “We are ready to deliver a fantastic championship.”

(NAN)