Our commitment to sports development unshakable ­­- ODSG

Ondo state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has said his administration will do more in the discovery and nurturing of raw talents in the nooks and crannies of the 18 local government areas of the state.

The governor stated this during the closing ceremony of the first national Jump Rope championship 2020 tagged “Dawn of Jump Rope in Nigeria” which took place at the indoor hall of the Akure sports complex.

Akeredolu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Dotun Owanikin said his government will give moral and financial supports to all sports in the state especially discovery.

While appreciating the Nigeria Rope Skipping federation for choosing Ondo state as a host, the governor called for more awareness, called for support from stakeholders stressing that the game has all it takes to empower youths and take them off the street.

He charged philanthropists and commercial companies to support government in sustaining sports development especially at the grassroots.

He promised to revamp the dilapidated sports structures and facilities across the state.

In his remark,the National General Secretary of the Rope Skipping Federation ,Mr Sesan Olukoya said the choice of Ondo state to hold the championship was the majority decision due to its record of sports potentials in the south west zone.

He added that the aim of the federation was to popularise the game among primary and secondary schools in the country.

He thanked the coaches,athletes and organisers of the event describing it as a success promising that talents discovered will represent Nigeria in international games as the ROPE /SKIPPING will make a show at the 2020 National sports festival in Benin Edo state and in the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Also speaking, the Chairperson Local Organising Committee, Bolanle Sekitari-Ajayi said the championship has allowed the team to learn from others and was hopeful for more successes.

About six states namely Oyo, Ondo, Lagos, Delta, Osun and Kwara participated in the championship and it was revealed that about twelve states of the Federation namely Bayelsa, Edo, Plateau, Imo, Rivers, Delta, Ondo, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Kwara and Oyo now play the game.

Representatives of Ondo state; Alli Grace won a gold medal in the Single Rope Speed 1 X 30s event, Alli David won silver in the Single Rope Cross-Rope / Cris-Cross event, Paul Alice also won a silver in the Left and Right 1 X 30s event while the team won silvers in the Double Dutch Speed relay and Freestyle Team events and in the Speed Rope event, the team won a bronze.

At the end of the championship, Delta state came first with six gold, two silver medals; Ondo came second with one gold, four silver and two bronze medals while one gold and one bronze went to Lagos to come third.

Medals and certificate were also awarded to winners and participants.


Source:https://citadelng.com.ng/2020/01/20/our-commitment-to-sports-development-unshakable-odsg/