Contingents from countries participating in the West Africa University Games will arrive for the Games today, though theportcitynews learnt that some contingents arrived yesterday.
The Games which is being hosted by the defending champion, University of Port Harcourt will officially take off on Saturday.
Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, gave the sum of N50 million to the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
However, a member of the LOC said the amount presented by the governor fell short of their financial expectations from Rivers State government.
The Games, which will run from today till November 12 at the University Sports Centre, will see over 65 universities across West Africa in attendance with over 5,000 athletes, 800 technical officials and coaches, expected at the ten-day event.
There were complains by some LOC members on Monday over alleged failure by both the Federal and Rivers State government to respond to their financial request for the Games.
“Our budget for the Games is N750 million. We were actually looking forward to get at least N200 million from Rivers State government with the hope that the Federal government will also respond to our call for financial help. But we were shocked to hear that Wike only gave a cheque of N50 million for us to host the Games. It won’t go anywhere because the amount will not even solve the problem of one sub-committee. Our appeal is for the governor to give us more money to stage a befitting WAUG,” the official stated.
“Most of the events won’t take off until Thursday and Friday. The opening ceremony will take place on Saturday, November 3, and we have put in place programmes for a spectacular ceremony, which will include lighting of the games torch, star parade, cultural dances, art exhibition, goodwill messages, acrobatics and fireworks display to entertain the visitors.
