As I write, Delta State is hosting the 8th National Youth Games in Asaba. It is in fulfilment of the MOU between the Federal Ministry of Sports and the Delta State Sports Commission for Delta State to host the event for four years.
While the gesture evidences the state’s commitment to partnering with the FG in nation building, that Governor Oborevwori is honouring the agreement speaks not only to his sense of patriotism, integrity in keeping promises and the continuum of governance, but especially also to his deep understanding of the place of sports in socio-economic development.
The imperative of continually providing a platform for youngsters to showcase their sporting talents, to be discovered and nurtured into the nursery from which the nation’s elite athletes would emerge, cannot be over-emphasised.
While some of the discovered athletes would progress to become national, continental and world champions, given further advanced training, the others also can find various career opportunities in sports, including coaching, administration, athletes management, and sundry sports businesses like kits manufacturing and equipment supply, as well as related professions like sports technology, sports science, sports medicine and facilities management.
But the gains are not limited to sports. The larger community of the citizenry also benefits. For instance, by the side of the National Youth Games is a sprawling market of various businesses attracted by the sheer number of athletes, officials, parents and guardians, supporters and spectators from various states of the federation attending the games. The number of visiting direct and indirect participants can be in excess of 15,000 people.
Providing for the feeding and other needs of this sheer number raises a huge market with the prospect of turnover that can exceed normal business performance at individual corner shops for three to four months.
The value chain extends outside the host city of the event, for as the sellers go to the regular markets to get supplies for the next day, so also do those in the regular markets go to near and far villages to purchase more supplies.
The arithmetic is simple. If water producers, for instance, had been selling about 100,000 litres of water daily for the regular residents of Asaba and environs, with over 15,000 tourists to the games, they will have to produce and sell more quantity.
Also captured are hoteliers, transporters, spare parts sellers, repairers, bars, restaurants etc.
The Youth Games is therefore not only an enabler for the discovery and career prospects of the youth, it especially provides an enabling environment for businesses, both of which, alongside the friendship and camaraderie it generates across lines, instil positive energy into society.
