NYG To Produce Next-Gen Athletes, Says Five-Time Olympian
Five-time Olympian, Mary Onyali of Nigeria, said the National Youth Games (NYG) is the bedrock of discovering the next generation of athletes for the country, as the nation gears up for the 7th edition of the Games in Delta State.
Onyali, who represented Nigeria in five consecutive editions of the Olympics, believes Nigeria will reap the benefits of the Games in the nearest future. From Seoul ‘88 all through Athens 2004, Onyali was Nigeria’s golden girl dominating the tracks.
She won the famous ‘golden bronze’ in the 4x100m relay at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and another bronze in the 200m Atlanta 1996. The Nigerian captured a gold medal for Nigeria at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and was the most celebrated Nigerian athlete, when the city of Abuja hosted the All African Games in 2003.
“All the coaches need do is to fish out young athletes, who have the potential of becoming a future star. A good coach should be able to know when they see such athlete,” Onyali said, adding that the Asaba 2023 National Youth Games would go a long way in producing more talents for the country.
The official opening ceremony of the National Youth Games will take place On Saturday, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State.
The Chairman of the local organising committee for the Games, Tonobok Okowa, said that four upcoming musicians will entertain spectators at the stadium tomorrow. The organisers had earlier engaged two musicians for the Games, but later increased the number to four.
While Boy Spyce and May D will thrill the spectators at the opening ceremony On Saturday, while Khaid and Cooler Lane will perform at the closing ceremony on September 30th.
