A total of 130 sportsmen and women, including 30 officials will represent Kwara State in the 17th National Sports Festival holding in Port Harcourt between June 26 and July 9, 2011.

The athletes, including those in special sports would participate in athletics, table tennis, badminton, kick-boxing, boxing, and cycling, among other events.

Speaking while receiving the Torch of Unity in Ilorin on Tuesday, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed charged the athletes to improve on their performance in the last sports festival tagged, KADA 2009.

The governor, who said that the Torch of Unity symbolised the unity of the country, added that Nigerians should sustain it in the collective interest of all.

He informed that the state government upgraded the Kwara State Stadium complex to encourage sports talents, adding that people should take advantage of the facilities therein for sports development of the state and its people.

He said the government is determined to assist the physically challenged athletes in the state to actualise their potentialities. through education sponsorship, participation in sporting events and involving them in skill acquisition ventures.