In line with the splendid strides of Rivers State Government led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi who is a sports loving Governor, with its efforts toward sports development in the state, the state government has said that, sporting facilities that was built across the entire state which are of world class standard would help to discover more young talents for the state and the country at large.
The Director of Sports, Rivers State Sports Council, Sir Hon. Daobu Harry who made this known during the 2013 Olympic Day Run at the Handball Court, Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex, Moscow Road in Port-Harcourt equally said that, the Adokiye Amiesimaka Sports Complex, Liberation Stadium, Civic Center Sports Complex and the new old Port-Harcourt Township sports facilities which will help the people of the state especially the youths to improve in their various sporting activities cannot be over emphasized, adding that,” there is plan on ground to renovate the Civic Center Sporting facilities so that it will be handy for the people in town and the Amiesimaka complex will as well be handy for them over there” he said.
” I advice the people of the state to at least take one day for exercise towards ensuring healthy fitness, so in line with this event, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) encourages all the 36 States in Nigeria and Federal Capital Territory to organise the Olympic Day and celebrate the annual global birth of Olympism, and the state sports council that has not failed to commemorate the day every year has also ensure that the 2013 Olympic Day Run is observed “.
The run which was monitored by team of Nigeria Olympic Committee and the state prominent personalities graced the celebration, while participants who took part during the run were given Certificates.
However, the Public Relation Officer, Rivers State Sports Council, Barisi Legbara Wifa on behalf of the state Sports Council expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for his support and encouragement to the NOC, the state Ministry of Sports and Health including the Federal Road safety Commission for their wonderful collaboration.
Meanwhile, the Olympic Day Run was established in 1987 by the international Olympic Committee ((IOC) to commemorate the formation of the IOC which was created on the 23rd of June, 1894 by Paris Congress, under the leadership of French, Baron Pierre De Coubertin, Olympic Day was first organised in Nigeria in 1989.
