Date: 2017-09-01

No fewer than 300 pupils from the 16 local government areas of Kwara will participate in the All Kwara Primary Schools Athletics Championship billed for between Sunday and Tuesday.

Tunde Abdulkareem, a former Vice Chairman of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and current Chairman of Kwara Athletics Association, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Ilorin.

He said the athletes would feature in seven events which include: 100m, 200m, 400m, mixed relay, medley, sack race and egg race. Abdulkareem said the championship tagged, "Catch Them Young," was aimed at attracting young athletes at the grassroots.

He said the programme was conceived in line with the policy of government to bring back the lost glory of sports at the state and national levels.

According to him, all arrangements have been concluded to ensure a hitch-free competition at the main bowl of the Kwara State ?Stadium in Ilorin. He said: "We are expecting 12 pupils from each local government area of the state.

"We will only provide accommodation and feeding for registered participants." He also said some public spirited individuals had been invited with the aim of persuading them to adopt some discovered talents.

Abdulkareem, who said there would be cash prizes for winners at the end of the event, added that a 2-km race round the main bowl of the stadium had been included in the schedule for parents and adults. He said: "We are giving N50,000, N30, 000 and N15, 000 as first, second and third prizes respectively to winning parents.

"Walking is a very good exercise and an Olympic and Commonwealth medal event. "We want our parents to keep fit while they help us discover our future Olympics and national champions."