The chairman House Committee on Sports, Kwara State House of Assembly, Adamu Ibrahim Sabi has charged the state contingents at the ongoing National Sports Festival to be good ambassadors and win more laurels for the state as the game progresses.

Sabi, while addressing the Paralympians during the Committee's oversight visit to Lagos, venue of the 18th edition of the games, praised the special athletes for making the state proud at the festival.

He said the state was aware of the athletes' selfless service, adding that they would be rewarded during and after the games.

The chairman charged the Management of the Sports Council and the State Ministry of Sports to embark on grassroots sports development and scout for talents, as part of preparation of the state for the 2014 festival.

Sabi also urged Tertiary institutions in the state to give priority to sports to ensure the sound development of the students.

Also speaking, Special Assistant to the Kwara State governor on Sports, Toyin Olokoba assured the athletes of govenment support, adding that having taken note of the lapses witnessed during Team Kwara's preparation towards Eko 2012, those lapses would be corrected ahead of the next edition to be hosted by Cross River State.

Earlier, a Board Member of the state Sports Council, Haruna Maigidansanmo stressed the need to adequately motive the athletes to achieve results and called for increase in the subvention of the council among other things to be able to perform effectively.

Also speaking, the Head of the Organising Committee of the state Sports Council, Jimoh Oke explained the challenges facing the council, in which he employed the state Assembly to come to their aid.

Responding on behalf of the athletes, the captain of Paralympics table tennis, Issa Abdulllahi thanked the state government for the motivation and support before and during the games.

He charged the state government to provide their needs in the areas of equipment, increment in their allowances and permanent employment to keep them from begging after winning medals for the state.

Sabi was accompanied by a member of the Committee, Hassan Oyeleke, and the House of Assembly Director of Information, Sunday Adeleke.