WE ARE BUILDING A NEW SPORTS CULTURE -OLAYINKA SULEIMAN

 

 

FOLUSHO ALADE

 

We are building a new Sports culture in Nigeria using the YOUTH SPORTS MOVEMENT (YSM), this  according to OLAYINKA SULEIMAN the Executive Director of  the AFRICA CENTRE FOR YOUTH SPORTS AND DEVELOPMENT (ACYSD) while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja on Monday during the MEDIA LAUNCH of the  ABUJA SCHOOL GAMES an INTER-SCHOOL SPORTS FESTIVAL.

SULEIMAN said her organisation is using the YOUTH SPORTS MOVEMENT to drive Youth Sports and Development.

In her words “Our mission is to make youth sports the foundation for the development of Nigeria through sports. We want to use this event to raise the value of youth sports.

“We are looking at the future where there will be more participation of youth in sports.

“We believe youth sports like every other elite sports should enjoy the same kind of attention, organisation and investment”

Speaking further SULEIMAN said the YOUTH SPORTS MOVEMENT is an arm of the  AFRICA CENTRE FOR YOUTH SPORTS AND DEVELOPMENT that drives the YOUTH SPORTS DEVELOPMENT.

According to her other arms include the ”POWER UP GIRLS” which is a campaign for equal participation of girls in Sports and also an advocacy working to  end  the abuse of children  in sports especially the girl child.

“Our strategy for youth  sports  development  include the school games through the youth sports movement”

“We also have the power up girls campaign;  for  the  equal participation of girls in sports and  advocacy to end child abuse in sports” SULEIMAN said

SULEIMAN said the ABUJA SCHOOL GAMES is a multi-million naira event that  that will feature 20 schools and events  such as ATHLETICS, BADMINTON, VOLLEYBALL FIVE-A-SIDE FOOTBALL to mention but a few.

“We are starting with 20 schools who had registered to participate in different sports track and field Athletic, Volleyball, Tennis, 5aside, Football Badminton among others” SULEIMAN said.

According to her Communications giants MTN is associating with the games while other corporate bodies are also expected to join the bandwagon in the future.

The YOUTH SPORTS MOVEMENT (YSM) is the sports development unit of  the  AFRICA CENTRE FOR YOUTH SPORTS AND DEVELOPMENT (ACYSD) with the vision to help create a new Africa where every young person will have equal opportunities to sports development without discrimination.

The one- week  ABUJA SCHOOL GAMES  event is scheduled for the 3rd of August to 19th of August 2019 at the MOSHOOD ABIOLA  NATIONAL STADIUM, Abuja.