Ugbe: Calabar 2014 ‘ll be world class

… Receives Festival’s flag

BY MONICA IHEAKAM

Cross River State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Ugbe, yesterday recieved the flag that confirmed Cross Rivers State the host of the 19th National Sports Festival from the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, promising to surpass landmark achievements of Lagos State.

He said that the games of the 19th National Sports Festival Calabar 2014 will be world class. Ugbe said he had gone round Lagos with some prominent sports professionals from Cross River to observe and understudy the general organisation of the EKO 2012 Games.

He said the professionals had gathered the necessary logistics, ideas and information that would aid his state in her preparation for the 2014 festival “The spectacular show put up by Lagos as host of the 18th National Sports Festival has put us under pressure, but I can assure you that Calabar would be a place to be in come 2014. “The ceremonial aspect of Calabar 2014 won’t be an issue, considering our pedigree in entertainment.

Our annual Calabar Christmas carnival will stand us in good stead to give Nigerians the best opening and closing ceremonies of the games. “Just as Port Harcourt and Lagos made use of higher institutions in the state as Games Village respectively, we shall emulate that too for Calabar 2014”. , Ugbe assured Meanwhile, Cross River with 12 gold, 14 silver and 23 bronze medals placed 8th on the EKO 2012 overall medal table. As the host for the next National Sports Festival, Cross River realized her set target of being among the top 10 states in medal placement.