The unveiling of the 17th National Sports Festival Mascot and Logo, which took place on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt ended, with optimism that the National Sports Festival coming up in November this year will be a success.

Giving his goodwill message at the event, Chief Tonye Graham Douglas, commended the chairman of the local organizing committee (LOC), Engr. Tele Ikuru, for his proposed construction of a new area for the National Sports Festival coming up this year, but warned that such protects are too Herculean and may not be completed before November. He advised the LOC chairman to make use of the existing facilities, stressing that the facilities when upgraded, will be more than standard.

Also speaking at the event the former governor of Kaduna State, Ibrahim Dakuwa Dan Masali, congratulated the government and people of Rivers State for hosting the festival. He pointed out that Rivers State has the experience and facilities to stage the festival. He advised that if the LOC is to succeed in accommodating 15000 sports men and women all over the country, the first thing is to have a lot of resources on ground and the careful selection of contractors that will be able to deliver before the commencement of the festival in November.

In his speech, chairman main organizing committee (MOC), representing the honourable minister of sports, Chief Partrick Ekeji said that the government of Rivers State has shown the will to host the festival. Reading the speech, the Hon. Minister, he said that he (minister) has no doubt that the government of Chibuike Amaechi will surpass the expectations of the people by holding a World-Class Sport festival. The minister expressed optimism that the Garden City Games 2010 will be a huge success.

The minister further said that in order for sporting events to get more sponsors, incentives have to be provided. He therefore asked the LOC to send the list of sponsors of the unveiling event, under the seal of the Rivers State government to him so it could be conveyed to the Federal Inland Revenue.

Price Vincent Ogbulafor, said that the National Sports event has fostered the image of Nigeria in the polity, stressing that sports must be encouraged at any level. He therefore appealed to the dignitaries present to support the unveiling event financially, morally, socially and otherwise.
The mascot for the 17th National Sports festival is a laughing Dolphin. The dolphin is gregarious, friendly, intelligent, playful, strong, fast, loving and acrobatic. These therefore informed the choice of the Dolphin as the official mascot of the 17th National Sports Festival “Garden City Games 2010”
 

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