The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says this year’s Nigerian Armed Forces Games will take place in Kaduna state from September 23 to 27.
In a statement on Sunday, Abidemi Marquis, the defence headquarter’s director of sports, said the four-day sporting event will have 1,600 athletes compete in 19 games.
Marquis noted that the event will take place at five venues include the 1 division of the Nigerian Army in the state, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Murtala Square, and a private range.
Marquis explained that the event is aimed at selecting a team that will represent the Nigerian military at the forthcoming African Military Games slated for November in Abuja.
“In 2023, the immediate past chief of defense staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, accepted to host the event in Abuja,” Marquis said.
“The current CDS, being a lover of sports accepted to host the event same venue.
“The Nigerian Armed Forces Games 2024, would serve as a trial, where the best athletes would be picked to represent Nigeria’s Armed Forces in the African Military Games which would be held from November 18 to 30, 2024, in Abuja.
“The objective of the games is to really select our team that will be representing Nigeria during the African military games in Abuja.”
Marquis added that Lucky Irabor, the chief of defense staff, chose to host the event in Kaduna as part of his contribution to impact on the state’s economy.
He urged sports enthusiasts in the state to be part of the competition which would be opened to all.
The DHQ director of sports also thanked Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna state, for providing some venues for the event.
The sporting activities to be competed for include basketball, lawn tennis, golf, track and field events, combat swimming, obstacle crossing, taekwondo, kick boxing, volleyball and archery among others.