Olopade urges fair play, sportsmanship at Gateway 2024
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Honourable Bukola Olopade, assured delegates from all states of a groundbreaking event set to raise the bar in the history of the National Sports Festival.
In his address, Olopade emphasized core values such as love, focus, discipline, and unity as the foundation of the festival, noting it would celebrate both athletic excellence and integrity.
“Let medals be won with honour, not by crook,” he said, underscoring the importance of fair play and true sportsmanship.
He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his transformative role in Nigerian sports, attributing the current progress to the president’s vision and commitment.
“We are where we are today—revamping, reshaping, and resetting our sports ecosystem—because of the vision of Mr. President. He is the reason why the National Sports Festival now boasts a world-class standard,” Olopade stated.
He also commended NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko for his dedication to the festival’s success, urging that Dikko’s passion be mirrored by every athlete and official.
Olopade, a former Commissioner for Sports in Ogun State, expressed deep gratitude to Governor Dapo Abiodun for his vital support in mobilizing resources and empowering stakeholders. He described the games as “a festival of modern times” poised to spotlight Ogun on both the national and international sports stage.
Welcoming participants, Olopade concluded emotionally, “Welcome to my story — a game I bid for, a journey that has my name written all over it.”
