700 athletes to battle in 31 sports at 8th Kwara State Sports Festival

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By Maxwell Kumoye 
 
 

No fewer than 700 athletes from Kwara State’s 16 Local Government Areas are expected to compete in 31 sporting events at the 8th edition of the Kwara State Sports Festival.

The festival, scheduled for August 21 to 29, 2026, will take place at the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin, with the Kwara State Sports Commission unveiling the official logo and mascot for the event on Tuesday.

Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission and Chairman of the Main Organising Committee, Mallam Bola Mogaji, commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for creating opportunities for young athletes to develop their talents through sports.

Mogaji also appreciated the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the chairmen of the 16 Local Government Areas for their support towards youth and sports development.

He recalled the history of the National Sports Festival and Kwara’s participation, noting that the revival of the state sports festival in 2000 was designed to sustain it as a biennial competition.

According to him, subsequent gaps were necessary to allow for the renovation and construction of sporting facilities at the stadium complex.

Mogaji said the festival would not only provide a platform for discovering new talents but would also showcase the state’s sporting facilities and diverse cultures while promoting unity and togetherness among the people of Kwara.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Steve Olarinoye, assured that preparations were progressing smoothly, with more than 60 percent of the work already completed ahead of the opening ceremony.

He disclosed that about 700 male and female athletes from the 16 LGAs are expected to participate across 31 sports.

Each Local Government Area is expected to field a maximum of 100 athletes in the various events, setting the stage for nine days of intense sporting competition and talent discovery across Kwara State.

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