Cross River State Government has splashed the sum of $1,000 (N1.5 million) as the ultimate prize for the winner of the maiden International Skating Championship held in Calabar on 15th June 2024.
The skating competition is revolutionising the way the government approaches youth empowerment and sports development.
The initiative brought together youths from different African countries and states to compete in the skating championship in Calabar.
Also, from prize money winning to the Laurel award, the initiative is setting a standard for responsible development in the state.
“Today is going to mark another day of sporting activity in Cross River State,” Governor Bassey Edet Otu remarked shortly before he presented prizes to the winners of the championship.
“We have Wonderful skaters from all over the country today. To start a sport which has come to find its roots here.
“I am very happy to know that over forty Cross Riverians are participating in this event,” Otu added.
He further noted, “Let me say this to cross Riverians this government is going to take sporting activity very seriously.”
“We are not leaving any stone unturned not just skating but in all sports.”
He said for the skaters he wished them the best as they have already done their rounds without injury.
According to Truth Live News, Governor Otu promised that he would continue to partner with all who would like to partner with the state government in sports.
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Meanwhile, the State Commissioner for Sports Development Mrs Agnes Atsu revealed plans to domesticate the skating championship.
She said in line with the federal government’s choice of 2nd August of every year as national sports day, Cross River State also has chosen 2nd August of every year to hold the skating championship, adding that the 2025 edition will be on the 2nd of August.
“I will be happy if skating can be recognised as a federation,” the representative of the Minister of Sports Development Sen. John Owan Enoh said.
He said he was surprised at what he saw because as far as he was concerned this was the first of its kind.
Also, he said skating is one of the sports in Nigeria and the federal government has not accepted it as a federation.
Therefore, he said: “With what I am seeing I am happy and if I have my way I will make sure it is approved.”
“We have a variety of sports programmes if the Cross River state is ready the federal government will bring any sports.”
“We are ready to partner with the state governments in any sports only if they are ready to accept us,” he concluded.
President of inline skating federation Retired AC Wuni Taylor highlighted the essence of the skating championship held in Calabar to include taking youths off crime and streets by engaging them in meaningful activities.
“While we organising the skating championship we ought to get sponsors who intimated the Cross River State Governor of the plan and under whose approval the championship is held today.”
Also speaking, the national chairman Inline Skating Federation and organiser Mr Damilola Daniel expressed gratitude for the governor’s approval and thanked participants for making the event a success.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Otu, and the convener of the Skate-A-Athon championship Mr Edem Darlington, observed that the event featured participants from other African countries.
He said the international and national event got participants from Cameroon, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso etc, to converge in Calabar for the maiden edition of the sports.
“The skating route covers the entire 12km carnival route in Calabar metropolis and at the end, winners will go home with various prizes,” Darlington explained.
The DPS who made this known in an interview with journalists who also witnessed the event said “All thanks goes to the support of the Cross River State Government.”
Highlights were the presentation of various prizes to the winners, the Road skate marathon at Carnival Route and the road party along the marathon Route.
The 2024 International Skating Championship was put together by SRHD Sports management in collaboration with the Nigeria Inline Skating Federation (NISF), in partnership with the Cross River State Sports Commission.