As the maiden edition of the national para sports festival gets underway in Abuja, Gombe and Nasarawa State have expressed readiness to put up impressive performances at the gathering of special athletes.
While Gombe State is fielding athletes in only six events namely Para-soccer, amputee football, deaf football, para-powerlifting, para-athletics and deaf sports, Nasarawa State is in town with a contingent of 55 athletes, 11 coaches and nine accompanying officials.
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While sending forth the Gombe State athletes, the chairman of the sports commission, Dr. Lanre Daniel urged the athletes to be good ambassadors of the state by playing according to the rules of the game.
The Chairman thanked the state Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for granting approval for the state to participate in the inaugural edition of the games.
“We are not going there for jamboree, we are going there to win medals and I charge you to behave well,” he charged the athletes.
On his part, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Ambassador Lucky Isaac Yargwa, also charged the state contingent to represent the state well and be good ambassadors throughout the event.
“I congratulate you on behalf of the state government and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for being one of the participants at the first edition of the National Para Sports Festival.
“While you are there, do everything to live modestly and peacefully, avoid things that would tarnish both your image and that of the state,” said Yargwa.
Meanwhile, Team Nasarawa is taking part in para-soccer, deaf football, para-athletics, para-weightlifting and para-table tennis.