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With only 11 remaining days until the 22nd National Sports Festival called “Gateway Games” in Abeokuta, Ogun state, anticipation continues to increase, and one of the most convincing stories that emerge is that of guest Junior athletes (IJA).
Introduced by the National Sports Commission (NSC) as a bold innovation, the IJA concept was born from the need to nurture the most brilliant young sports perspectives in the nation.
Nicknamed “State 38”, the team that goes to the NSF comprises just over 100 selected teenage athletes from all over Nigeria to compete against homologists most established in approximately 11 sports at the next National Sports Festival.
The NSC vision is to provide these young athletes a rare platform to test their skills in a great stage while accelerating their development in a highly competitive environment. And with the IJA camp currently buzzing with energy and optimism, that vision is beginning to take shape.
The IJA will compete in athletics, bádminton, football, for athletics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, wrestling and weightlifting. These sports were strategically selected to align with Nigeria’s force areas while preparing the next generation of stars for national and international competitions.
While its inclusion is development, ambition within the camp is not only passive. From the sprints to the fighting mats, from the swimming lanes to the weightlifting platforms, these junior athletes will not only participate, but will challenge the status quo.
It is expected that Gateway 2024 games, from May 16 to 30, house between 12,000 and 15,000 athletes in more than 30 sports, which makes it the largest convergence of sports talent in the country. In the midst of this talent burst, all eyes will be in the IJA to see how far the “38th state” can go.
As the countdown continues, one thing is clear: the future of Nigerian sports is not only waiting, it is coming. And carries the colors of the guest junior athletes.
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