Gateway Games 2024, a showpiece of high class
The 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Gateway Games 2024, ended with a colourful and exciting closing ceremony on Thursday at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Declared open two weeks ago by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gateway Games 2024 will go down in history as one of the best-organised editions of the National Sports Festival since its inception in 1973.
From the spectacle of the opening ceremony to the glitz and glamour of the closing day, Ogun State buzzed with activity as both on- and off-the-field events lit up the atmosphere.
In addition to hosting the crème de la crème of the Nigerian sports scene and beyond, top artistes were on hand to add flavour to Nigeria’s version of the Olympics.
Day-to-day activities proceeded smoothly, overshadowing the few minor incidents that occurred during the two-week event.
The festival, which attracted over 10,000 athletes and officials from across the country, significantly boosted the local economy. Business activities surged in Abeokuta, Ikenne, Sagamu, and other parts of the state throughout the duration of the games.
Much kudos must go to the host state, the National Sports Commission (NSC), and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) led by the Director General of the NSC, Honourable Bukola Olopade, for living up to their promise of delivering a sports festival that future hosts will aspire to surpass.
At the end of the competition, defending champions Team Delta emerged victorious for the third consecutive time, topping the overall medals table with 328 medals—122 gold, 96 silver, and 110 bronze.
Team Bayelsa, hosts Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Edo, and Lagos also featured among the top seven on the medals table.
With Ogun State, under Governor Dapo Abiodun, having successfully delivered a high-standard sports fiesta, all eyes now turn to Enugu State to see how it will raise the bar as host of the next edition.
