The newly appointed Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has revealed that between 12,000 and 15,000 athletes are expected to participate in the 2024 Gateway Games. This event will be the 22nd National Sports Festival, scheduled to take place in Ogun State in early January 2025.
Olopade shared this information after a closed-door meeting on Thursday in Abeokuta with Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Emmanuel Emefienim, CEO of Premium Trust Bank. He emphasized that the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is working hard to make this festival a memorable one, with a focus on creating an Olympic-standard Games Village to accommodate all athletes in one location—a first in the history of the festival.
“We are determined to host the best festival in the country,” Olopade said. “My biggest joy as the chairman of the LOC is seeing the governor’s commitment to creating legacy projects that will benefit Ogun State for decades.”
Highlighting some of the infrastructural upgrades, Olopade pointed to the MKO Abiola Stadium, the Ijeja Sports Centre, and improvements at Babcock University, as well as new basketball courts for the event. He expressed excitement over the world-class facilities being built for future generations, noting, “In the next 20 to 30 years, children of Ogun State, Nigeria, and the world will benefit from these facilities.”
In addition to infrastructure, Olopade outlined efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of participants, including a digitalized feeding system, scientific food testing, and a volunteer program. Around 200 accredited journalists will be provided with accommodation and meals for smooth coverage of the event.
A transport cluster has also been set up to shuttle athletes between various venues in Babcock, Sagamu, Ikenne, and Abeokuta.
Wasiu Isiaka, the Commissioner for Sports Development in Ogun State, assured that preparations were progressing at full speed. Unlike the 15th edition of the festival in 2006, which included swimming events at a hotel, the 22nd edition will be held entirely in state-owned facilities.
