Dr, Seidu Sambawa, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, told a press briefing that the federal government is very serious about Abuja’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
He said, “the man who organized the Melbourne Games has been approached, and he has sent me a letter saying he is willing to meet with President Obasanjo to discuss how best Abuja can employ certain strategies to win the race”.
Sambawa added, “we are going to run a credible bid. Between now and November 2007 when the decision will be taken, we will give it our best shot. The Games have been held in all other continents except in Africa. If it is to be a truly Commonwealth Games it has to come to Africa. We have the facilities to host. In 2003 we hosted the best CHOGOM a few months after hosting the 8th All-Africa Games. Nigeria have the capacity for these things”.
According to the Minister a fund-raising dinner is taking place in Abuja at the end of May where about one thousand guests are expected to contribute to sports development in the country.
He said, “the money we get from this will go into refurbishing the six federal government stadia in the country”.
Abuja’s competitors for the 2014 Commonwealth Games are Halifax Canada and Glasgow Scotland.
An article in the Halifax-based newspaper the Chronicle Herald says that promoters of Halifax 2014 are getting stiff opposition to their plans from various quarters because of rising costs that are inevitable for such large international sporting events and the province’s “feeble” financial state.
The newspaper reports that at best the province of Nova Scotia where Halifax is located is going to go into the bid “profoundly divided”, with most of the support concentrated in the Halifax area.
