1,600 athletes to compete in Armed Forces games

The Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters, AVM Abidemi Marquis, says no fewer than 1,600 athletes will compete in the forthcoming Armed Forces Games, 2024. Marquis said this while addressing a press briefing regarding the games, which will take place from the 23rd to the 27th of September in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event is: “Enhancing Military Professionalism Through Sports.” Marquis, who also serves as the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the games, added that 19 sporting events would be contested.

He explained that the Organisation of African Military Sports awarded Nigeria the hosting rights for the African Military Games 2024, to be held in Abuja. The chairman said the first edition was held in Kenya 22 years ago, and since then, Nigeria has been unable to host it due to ongoing security challenges during that period.

Marquis recalled that in 2023, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, agreed to host the event in Abuja. “The current CDS, being a lover of sports, accepted to host the event at the same venue,” he said.

Marquis noted that the games would serve as trials, where the best athletes would be selected to represent Nigeria’s Armed Forces in the African Military Games. The African games, he said, would be held from November 18 to 30 in Abuja.

“The objective of the games is to select our team that will represent Nigeria during the African Military Games in Abuja,” he added. The chairman also explained that the CDS chose Kaduna to host the event as part of his contribution to impact the state’s economy.

He invited all sports-loving people of Kaduna State to be part of the competition, stating that it was open to all. He