Apr 30, 2024 - 03:53
By guardian.ng

Over 2300 athletes converge on Calabar for MTN Champs grand finale

Athletics

Over 2,300 athletes are expected at U.J. Esuene Stadium for the grand finale of the MTN CHAMPS, which holds today at the Canaan City.

The MTN Champs is a school athletics event aimed at instilling the spirit of competition among young athletes in four different age groups, including cadets (U-14), youth (U-17), junior (U-20) and the newly introduced senior category (no age limit).

Unveiling the programme for the four-day event at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, yesterday, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN, Adia Sowho, noted that this grand finale is not just a celebration of athletic excellence, but also a testament of the firm’s collective commitment to the country’s future in sports.

“The season two has already surpassed season one in many ways. Over 8,000 people registered for the tournament, with 2,300 registering for the Calabar event alone.

“It is exciting to imagine a future where Nigerian athletes are consistently at the podium at major international events, inspiring the next generation to pursue their dreams.

This programme is paving the way for the future and nurturing that talent and providing the support they need to reach their full potential,” she said.

Earlier, the founder of Making of Champions (MOC), Bambo Akani, described the event as a nation-building and life-changing exercise for the youth, saying that one of the objectives of the event is to uphold Nigeria’s core values and brighten the future of the nation at the Olympics.

Also speaking at the event, Cross River’s Commissioner for Sports Development, Agnes Atsu, expressed the state’s readiness to host the grand finale of MTN CHAMPS.