About 300 students drawn from public secondary schools in Lagos State took part in the Gymnastics Open Day at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park, Yaba, last weekend.
The training programme, facilitated by the Lagos State Sports Commission, was an opportunity for technical officers of Lagos State Gymnastics Association to expose the students to the rudiments of the game. During the two-day event, the participants were taught various gymnastics basics which include floor exercise, vaulting nut, balance bim, parallel bar, pummel horse and bouncing on the tarpaulin.
Chief Coach of the association, John Abiodun Oyewuwo, said the beauty of the “Open Day” was that it was coming once again after 22 years a programme like this was held in Lagos. “The students were young and they responded to what we taught them. We have about 300 students. We were able to carefully select 107 who distinguished themselves. These 107 would form the bulk of young gymnasts that will be further groomed. Lagos State has the best equipment for gymnastics in Nigeria, and I’m happy that we are catching them young now,” Oyewuwo said.
For the Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, Dr. Kweku Tandoh noted, “The Open Day was one of the talent identification platforms approved by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, for us to develop schools sports and to introduce sports to all schools in the state. It’s stepping stone to groom future stars for the country. The plan is to make Lagos State a production ground for the grooming of young and talented athletes for Nigeria.
“Those identified athletes will be further groomed through our regular camping programme we are planning for weekends and vacation period.”
The Gymnastics Open Day involved students in Education District 3 that comprises secondary schools from Lagos Island, Eti-Osa, Ikoyi and its environs and District 4 that include schools from Surulere, Yaba, Somolu among others.
