| 13 November 2018 | Ukorebi Esien
The Chairman, Cross River State Sports Commission Rt. Hon. Orok Duke has said that all is now set for Cross River State to once again bid for the hosting right of the 2020 National Sports Festival, having lost to right to host the 2014 centenary games to Abuja in 2018. Thedailynewsng can report.
Duke revealed this Monday, while playing host to National contingents of the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports at the main bowl of UJ Esuene Sports stadium.
This was to honour the invitation by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports to the forthcoming National Sports Festival slated for 6th – 16th of December, 2018 at Abuja. The contingents having toured 4 Geograpolitical zones already, started the journey of the South-South Zone in Cross River State from which they will then visit the other South-South states.
Chief Orok Duke lamented the situation where the state was supposed to host the centenary games owing to the fact that some major sporting events such as football and cricket were first played in Calabar, but due to financial constrain the state could not host the game.
He said it was painful that the Federal Government could not assist the state financially to host the games but today has the resources to host it in Abuja.
The Sports commission Chief hinted that the digital governor of Cross River State Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade has instructed that the state bid for the 2020 hosting right which they will do.
When asked how prepared the state is to host the event ahead of the 2020 should the state clinch the hosting right again, he assured newsmen that his interactions with the Governor Sen. Ben Ayade were in the positive light as arrangements were top gear to ensure a smooth completion of the projects ahead of the 2020 events.
Earlier while Passing the torch of Unity to the governor of the state who was represented by the chairman of the states sports commission, Chief Orok Duke, the south south zonal coordinator, Federal Ministry of Sports and Youths Development, Mr Sunny Obot, said: "We are here in south south today. We are commencing it from Cross River State, an indication to invite the state to participate in the national sports festival as being scheduled from 6th to 16th of December, 2018."
He went on to say that "This torch is a symbol of peace. This torch is a symbol of unity… An indication also that Peace has come to stay in Cross River State; an indication also to meant that peace will ever continue to reign in Cross River State."
In his response, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke thanked the National Contingents for the honour and invitation and quickly added that having spoken with the Governor in this regard, he conveys the Governor's acceptance to the invitation which he said Cross River will be in attendance and in their numbers. Rt. Hon. Orok Duke however added that the state will go with at least 50 athletes who will compete in individual events as the preliminaries for team events had already been concluded.
Ukorebi Esien blogs for Thedailynewsng where he tells the Nigerian story one article at a time.
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