By Jude Atupulazi
Anambra State is ready to host the 2020 Police Games. This was disclosed by the chairman of Anambra State Sports Development Commission, Mr Tony Oli, at a media conference at the Conference Hall of Government House, Awka last Wednesday.
The media conference coincided with the second visit of the police hierarchy to Anambra to assess the level of preparedness by the Anambra State Government.
Flanked by officials of the Anambra State Government and those of the police that included the Secretary to the Anambra State Government, SSG, Mr Solo Chukwulobelu; and AIGs, Alkali Usman and Zubairu Muazu, Oli said the Anambra State Government was putting finishing touches towards a successful hosting of the event.
He said the venue of the games would be spread across the state and beyond where there were particular facilities for the various sports. Such places include Ekwueme Square, Awka; Otuocha Township Stadium, Rojenny Sports Stadium, Oba; Tansi International College and Police College, Oji River where shooting competition would take place.
Oli, who expressed delight that the competition taking place in the state would boost business and economic activities, urged the people of the state to come out en masse to cheer the athletes.
He listed some of the sports events to include football, swimming, marathon, shooting, as well as other indoor and outdoor games.
He commended Gov Willie Obiano for accepting to host the games, which he described as the first time such would take place in the Southeast.
For his part, the SSG, Solo Chukwulobelu, said the hosting of the games by Anambra was a measure of the confidence the police had in the security situation of the state. He said that Gov Obiano agreed to host the games because of his passion for sports, and corroborated Oli’s statement that it was the first time the games would hold in the Southeast.
The SSG also commended Oli for his efforts at driving the development of sports in the state.
The head of the committee for the games, AIG, Alkali Usman, for his part, hailed Gov Obiano for not just accepting to host the games but to sponsor it.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations by the state government, noting that the games had produced many top athletes for the country at national and international levels.
He disclosed that the athletes would be drawn from the 12 zonal commands of the police in the country; even as he said the police would recruit youths who were good at sports and urged such people to key into the games.
The ten day-sports fiesta will start on February 29, with more than 6, 000 athletes expected.
