The 22nd National Sports Festival, the Gateway Games Ogun 2024, has been rescheduled to May 16–30, 2025. Initially planned for January 12th, the postponement was announced following the conclusion of Joint Technical Meetings in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday.
The zonal eliminations for team sports will now be held from February 23-28, 2025.
Thecla Opara, secretary of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), said the delay was necessary to implement the technical committee’s suggestions.
Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, echoed the same need for proper preparation.
“The communique is clear, but it did not capture that the Ogun state government and the Local Organising Committee were against any postponement. However, the Technical Committee felt many elements needed to come together to give Nigerians the new definition of sports economy and ecosystem as defined by the President,” he said.
Olopade added, “We are excited that we have a new date. This gives us five months to properly put everything together and show the whole country what capacity is all about.“
The technical committee chairman noted the need for facility upgrades to meet international standards.
“Technically, we looked at the facilities, and as professionals, we want something nearer to the Olympics. The facilities put on the ground by the Ogun state government need to be properly fine-tuned to meet the standard so our athletes can enjoy and not just manage,” he asserted.
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