By Amaechi Agbo

The Federal Capital territory has begun construction of new sports centres in major cities of the Nigeria’s Seat of Power.

The Mandate Secretary, Youth and Sports Development Secretariat of the FCT, Mr Lawan Geidam, disclosed this on Saturday during the Olympic Day Celebration Run.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Iyiola Ogundele off the sports Department, the Secretary thanked the Nigeria Olympic Committee and all stakeholders in sports in the country particularly in the FCT for their efforts in champion sports adding that the FCT administration under Nyeson Wike is is omitted to sports development as the FCT administration is currently building new sports centres and renovating old ones.

He described the Olympic Day Celebration as a day set apart by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to echo the core Olympic value of excellence, friendship and respect which reminds all nations that sports is a universal language that build bridges and turn strangers into teammates.

“I want to thank the NOC and the stakeholders in sports in FCT foe being part of today’s celebration. The FCT administration is committed to harnessing the transformative power off sports far beyond mere competition. Sports are powerful engine room for economic empowerment and an effective prescription for combating life style diseases. Regular physical exercise facilitated through sports significantly reduces the risk of chronic heart diseases such as diabetes and obesity thereby fostering a healthier and more productive populace.

“It is in furtherance to these objectives that the FCT administration is taking bold, concrete steps to promote sports development in the territory. The construction of news sports centres and upgrading of existing sports facilities are well underway. We are optimistic that on completion, these centres will become vibrant hubs for creating future Olympians not just for FCT but for Nigeria at large.

Earlier in his addressing, the President, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr Habu Gumel, Represented by the Chairman, NOC Sports for All Commissions, Dr Ibrahim Abdul, highlighted the importance of the Olympic Day Celebration

“On Olympic Day Celebration, we commemorate the inception of the Olympic Movement, as envisioned by our esteemed founder, Pierre de Coubertin aspiration to enhance the world through the transformative power of sports. Therefore, Olympic Day serves as an ideal occasion to rise and engage in physical activity. When we partake in sports, we embody our new Olympic motto: Faster, Higher,Stronger-Together.

“Such is the magnificence of sport: it propels the world into motion,transcending geographical boundaries and embracing diverse expressions of movement,” he said