Date: 2020-02-10

Kwara State Weightlifting Association Chairman, Dr. Steve Olarinoye has praised the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq for the successful hosting of the state's Sports Festival for the first time in almost two decades.

Olarinoye, a one-time ExCo member of the Commonwealth Weightlifting Federation, said 'the rejuvenated' Kwara Sports Festival would not have been achieved without the passionate support of the governor.

"No doubt, sports in Kwara have been in a bad state for some time," stated Olarinoye, who was a Director (Sports) until his retirement from the Federal Civil Service. "But with the coming of the Sports loving Governor Abdulrasaq, we have hope for a great turn around.

"You imagine the staging of the just concluded seventh Kwara State Sports Festival that was last held about 16 years ago, the amiable Governor thought it necessary to revive it. That’s a Governor that has the youths in mind.

"Because of the zeal of the Governor we had no option than to give our best towards the success of the Festival and this took us to all the 16 LGAs in the state with the novel introduction of the Torch of Unity by the MOC, which was not part of the original plans for the Festival."

Olarinoye said being part of the MOC opened his eyes to the sporting needs of the state, adding the state stood to benefit from his repertoire after holding forth in varied sporting positions before his retirement, including being the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Professional League. He affirmed: "This (Sport Festival) is just the beginning of better things to come to sports development in Kwara State. My home coming after retirement was not accidental but a way of giving back to the community what I've gathered over the years as an experienced sports administrator.

"With the God given, sports loving Governor of the state, the sky is our beginning in the state as far as sport development is concerned," he noted.