The Main Organising Committee (MOC) said five sports new sports have been introduced into the National Youth Games (NYG).
The 3rd edition of the Youth games is slated to hold at the University of Ilorin, Kwara from 7th to 17th September, 2017.
The Secretary of the Main Organising Committee, Okere Emmanuel said that the newly introduced are Traditional Sports (Ayo/Kokowa), Wushu-Kunfu, Beach Volleyball, Cycling and Golf, while Canoeing/Rowing and Roller Skating would feature as demonstrative sports.
MOC scribe said that the games would feature 27 sports, including five team sports.
He listed the team events to include, Basketball, Cricket, Cycling, Handball, Hockey (Five Aside) and Volleyball. With the last three falling in the less fancied category of sports in this part of the world, it is expected that through the cycling, hockey and cricket match result or performances from the National Youth Games, the game of these sports would grow to galvanize more interest and inclusion from Nigeria’s young population.
He said that the accepted weight category for Weightlifting in the game was 56kg /62kg for boys and 48kg/53kg for girls.
For Wrestling, there are FS-55kg, 60kg and FS-48kg, 53kg, while the weight category for Wushu-Kunfu, are 56kg (sanshou/Taolu) and 60kg (sanshou/Taolu) respectively.
According to him, Twenty two states have so far concluded registration for the 2017 National Youth games
“We are using this edition of the games to build athletes that will take part in the 2018 Africa Youth Games and Olympics Youth Games,’’ he said.
The 2nd edition held in Ilorin, Delta topped the medal table with 24 medals, Ogun followed with 17 medals while Anambra and Kwara had 16 medals each.
