The 2021 National Youth Games comes to live in the land of the Afonja Warriors, Kwara state and the sixth edition will see games take place across University of Ilorin sports centers as well as the Kwara State sports complex, Ilorin, from Friday, October 15th to Wednesday, October 20th, 2021.
The sixth edition was earlier scheduled to flag off on the 10th October, till 20th, but due to itches in logistics across athletes camp, games village and others, the event was readjusted, but still falls within the earlier scheduled closing ceremony day, 20th October, 2021.
Medals will be contested for in 36 sports, from individual games to team games as University of Ilorin will host about 92% of these games, including the opening and the ceremony, billed for the Maracana Stadium I, University of Ilorin.
Going into this years sports festival for youths not above 15 years, here are the games schedule and venue from the opening ceremony till the closing, as released by the Organisers on the 11th of October, 2021.
Opening ceremony will take place on Friday, October 14 at the Maracana Stadium 1, Unilorin.
Gymnastics (15th and 16th, Table Tennis and Para-Table Tennis (17th and 18th) will all take place at the Gymnasium of Unilorin sports complex.
The Indoor sports hall of the Kwara State sports complex will witness Taekwondo and Karate on the 15th and 16th while Badminton will have grace the court from the 17th to 19th, and Swimming from 15th to 18th at the same venue.
Researchers lodge of University of Ilorin will see boxing events takes place from the 15th all through the 19th
Basketball from 15th to 19th will take place at the basketball court of the Unilorin sports complex, Chess at the Auditorium basement of Unilorin from 15th to 18th. Also, Cycling, Handball, Golf, Hockey will take place RR Airport road, Ilorin town, Handball court, Golf Club, Unilorin and Maracana II respectively from the 15th through 18th.
The Unilorin Business school will see various events like Judo and Wrestling for 15th and 16th, Kungfu on the 17th and 18th, Scrabble and Shooting from 15th to 18th, Weightlifting and Dart from 15th to 17th.
Others are Athletics, Deaf Athletics and Para-Athletics on the Athletic track, Maracana Stadium I from 17th to 19th. Squash, Ayo and Tennis will span through 15th to 18th at th New Squash hall and Tennis court of Unilorin respectively.
Maracana I and II pitches will see football actions from 15th to 18th, Rugby at the Junior staff quarter from 15th to 17th, Canoeing from 15th to 18th at the Lakeside of Unilorin and Beach Volleyball scheduled for the pitch beside Maracana III from 15th to 18th.
National Youth Games is an annual national grassroots sports tournament organised by the ministry of youth and sports development aimed at discovering and nurturing young, raw, but promising talents for the country’s future engagement in sports. Delta state have won the last five edition of the games and at the last edition held in Ilorin, the Okowa contingent garnerd 41 gold, 32 silver, and 31 bronze medals to stamp their undented records at the games.
Ayoola Adeleke reporting from Ilorin
Photos: Google