By: Felix Ikpotor
Rivers State is now set to host the first Governor Nyesom Wike National Wrestling Championship billed for Nov. 23 to Nov. 30 at the Alfred Diette Spiff Sports Complex, Port Harcourt. the junior and senior cadets in the state.
Boma Iyaye, Rivers Commissioner for Sports and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the championship disclosed this to sportswriters at a press conference at the NUJ Press Centre in Port Harcourt on Tuesday .
Iyaye stated that every necessary arrangement required for a successful hosting of the junior, cadet and senior championship had been put in place.
The sports commissioner disclosed that over 600 athletes from 24 states had indicated interest in the championship while the registration was still on.
He said: “We have already booked 11 hotels in a good area in Port Harcourt to accommodate the athletes and technical officials”.
He noted that winners in the championship in the various categories would represent Nigeria in the forthcoming African Wrestling Championship billed for Rivers in 2018.
Also speaking, Mr. Honour Sirawoo, President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Alternate Chairman of the Media sub-committee, said that state teams and technical officials would arrive on Nov. 23 while the secretariat would be opened on 24.
Princewill Chike, Rivers Commissioner for Health and Chairman, Medical sub-committee, said that the team was ready to tackle the issue of doping among athletes and other medical challenges.
On his part, The Chairman of Security sub-committee and Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said that adequate arrangements had been made for a peaceful hosting of the championship.
The LOC disclosed that 90 Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals each were up for grabs in the competition, adding that winners will go home with both prize money and medals.
