NAN-S-7
Championships
By Debo Oshundun
Lagos, Nov. 26, 2017 (NAN) The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Asaba 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships (ASAC) says the event will be better than the 2013 African Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC) hosted by Delta.
Solomon Ogba, the LOC Chairman, told newsmen on Sunday in Lagos that the 2018 ASAC would be the best ever.
“Delta is committed to hosting the best African Senior Championships ever.
“When we (Delta) hosted AYAC, it was adjudged the best ever by officials of the African Athletics Confederation (CAA) and other athletics buffs.
“We shall do the same with the Asaba 2018 Championships,’’ he said.
Ogba added that Delta has become used to hosting the world, and not just in athletics but football also.
“We have competent managers who have observed and worked at the highest levels of sports organisation —– from the Olympics Games to IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Games and others.
“The state has capable hands and, in Delta, sports is a way of life. Our people are passionate about sports,’’ he said.
Ogba, who is also the President of the Bobsled & Skeleton Federation of Nigeria, said the LOC would give Team Nigeria all the assistance require to host and win the championships.
“Nigeria is placed top on the all-time African Senior Athletics Championships medals table and we are not ready to surrender that lead, especially when we are hosting.
“So, all hands will be on deck to ensure that Team Nigeria performs great enough to win. We shall assist the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) in preparing the athletes for the championships,” he said.
The LOC Chairman said also that new members would be inducted into the CAA Hall of Fame in Asaba during the championships.
“Beyond the championships proper, Asaba 2018 will be a celebration of athletics as the `who is who’ in athletics worldwide will be in Asaba to celebrate our sport in Delta State,’’ Ogba said.(NAN)
DEB/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)