After eleven days of thrilling competition featuring some of the country’s finest and most promising athletes, the 22nd National Sports Festival, dubbed ‘Gateway Games 2024’ ends Thursday, May 29, with a highly anticipated closing ceremony at the MKO Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
This year’s festival has been hailed as one of the best-organised in recent time as excitement mounts for what the closing event will entail.
Over the past eleven days, Ogun State has established itself as a vibrant sporting hub, showcasing world-class facilities and an enthusiastic local populace that embraced the festival as their own.
One highlight of the festival was the historic turnout for the men’s football final, where Ogun State triumphed over Kwara State with a 4-1 victory.
The MKO Stadium reached full capacity, and many more spectators gathered outside to watch the action on a big screen, demonstrating how deeply sports resonate with the national spirit of unity.
Events also took place at numerous venues, including the Alake Sports Centre, Baptist Boys High School, Obafemi Awolowo Square, and Remo Stadium in Ikenne, as well as the NYSC Orientation Camp in Shagamu and the Ilisan Town Hall.
The festival saw phenomenal attendance throughout, reinforcing the excitement generated in the lead-up to the games.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) and Ogun State Government worked tirelessly to ensure a memorable experience for athletes, officials, and the media alike, delivering on the pre-tournament promise of an exhilarating festival.
The Gateway Games 2024 was similarly filled with dramatic moments, inspiring performances, and record-breaking achievements.
The festivities also uncovered a wealth of young talent, notably from the 38th participant, the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA), who surprised many by securing several medals and highlighting the value of the initiative.
As the closing ceremony approaches, the NSC leadership expressed heartfelt gratitude to both the Federal Government and Ogun State Government for their support in empowering millions of Nigerian youths through sports.
NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dilko expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to the development of sports in Nigeria by providing essential support for the success of the festival.
He also commended the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for the collaborative success achieved during the games. “I cannot thank him enough, and posterity will surely remember his contributions positively.”
For his part, NSC Director General and Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Hon Bukola Olopade extended his appreciation to everyone involved in the successful execution of the festival.
“From committee members to local organising teams, technical officials, the media, and our athletes, the achievements everyone is celebrating belong to you all,” Olapade said.
While acknowledging some challenges faced during the festival, Olopade reassured participants that efforts were already underway to address these issues ahead of next year’s Games which will take place in Enugu State.
The closing ceremony is set to bring together prominent government officials and industry leaders, with a vibrant cultural display reflecting Ogun State’s heritage.
The event will also mark the ceremonial passing of the hosting baton to Enugu for the 23rd edition of the Games, scheduled for September 2026.
