Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan
More than 4,000 athletes are expected to participate at the 14th Biennial Police Games tagged ‘Oluyole 2024’, scheduled to kick off in Ibadan today.
The eight-day sports fiesta will be rounded off on March 2 at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, while addressing journalists in Ibadan, said the aim of the competition is to discover talents for the country and also for the fitness of the police personnel.
The IGP who was represented by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the theme of the competition is, ‘Competing for peace, unity, stability and development of Nigeria.’
Adejobi disclosed that the IGP will lead other management team to Ibadan while Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, will be the Chief Host.
He said, “We know that the Nigeria Police Force has a very good history when it comes to sports development in Nigeria. For many years we have been at the forefront of producing and projecting talents in all sports arenas of Nigeria and beyond this country globally, Nigeria Police Force has produced a very large number of athletes in football, wrestling and talk of any games in the whole world.
“So, we are coming together to converge on Ibadan, the Oyo state capital to have the 14th Biennial Police Games.
“We know that if you are not mentally fit, you cannot discharge your duty as a police officer or as a security agent. Our intention is to make sure we come together to stage these games and to identify good talents again that will support the Nigerian government in producing good hands and good brains that will develop our sports in Nigeria.
“Oluyole 2024 will bring together over 4000 athletes that will participate in various all recognised games across the globe except the games that we will not have facilities for in Ibadan here.
Participants will compete in football, basketball, boxing, mixed martial arts, swimming, lawn tennis, table tennis, badminton and wrestling, among other sports.
“We are doing this in preparation for our ability to attain our best in the internal security of this country. When you are physically fit, you are good to go to do the job.”
The Oyo State Sports Commissioner, Wasilat Adegoke, in her remarks, assured that everything is set to make the sports fiesta a memorable one.
Also, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Pastor Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the state is glad to have the IGP and other police officers and men in Oyo State for the game, stating that the state has put in place logistics to make the programme a huge success.
“It’s going to be an exciting eight-day event and I urge people to come out en masse and see policemen outside their primary assignment,” he said.
