The inaugural edition of the Gombe State Athletics Association’s Inter Primary Schools Athletics Championship is underway at the Pantami Stadium with heats in some of the events taking place in the morning and afternoon session.
The Chairman Gombe State Athletics Association, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, said the grassroots competition is for all the primary schools in Gombe State but only the schools in Gombe Local Government Authority are taking part in the maiden edition which he said will serve as a pilot event.
According to the programme of events released by the Main Organising Committee (MOC), the morning session will witness heats in 300m girls, 300m boys, 500m bottle race for girls, 400m bicycle race boys events while the afternoon session will see the pupils competing in 200m boys and girls heats, 500m egg race for girls, 50m sack race for boys and then 4x100m heats for boys and girls to close the opening day of the competition.
The organisers have said over 1,100 kids from at least 37 primary schools in Gombe Local Government Area are taking part in the tournament which they explained is aimed at discovering hidden talents at the grassroots for development.
To ensure safety of lives and property during the competition, the chairman of accreditation and security sub-committee, Mrs. Salomi Dauda, has said adequate security measures have been put in place.
“The committee is aware of the present security challenges and has acted proactively by engaging the services of security agencies to help in maintaining law and other.
“Therefore, we are not envisaging any problem. We are also urging everyone to come out and support the future stars as they take their first steps in athletics,” she said.
The competition is expected to come to a close on Tuesday, July 11.
