8th Kwara Sports Festival: MOC, LOC Assure Readiness as Commission Unveils Mascot and Logo
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Gov. AbdulRazaq Deepens Youth Empowerment Through Grassroots Sports
The Kwara State Sports Commission has unveiled the official logo and mascot for the 8th edition of the Kwara State Sports Festival as part of preparations for the state’s biggest sporting fiesta.
The unveiling ceremony, held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at the Conference Room of the Kwara State Sports Commission, marked another milestone in the countdown to the festival, which is scheduled to take place from Friday, August 21, to Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the George Agbazika Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin.
The multi-sport event will feature athletes from all the 16 Local Government Areas of the state competing in 28 sporting events.
Addressing journalists during the ceremony, the Executive Chairman of the Commission and Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Mallam Bolakale Adisa Mogaji, commended the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for providing opportunities for young talents to develop and showcase their abilities through sports.
Mogaji also appreciated the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, as well as the Chairmen of the 16 Local Government Areas, for their commitment and support towards youth and sports development in the state.
Reflecting on the history of sports development in Kwara, the MOC Chairman recalled the era of the National Sports Festival where Governor AbdulRazaq, Hameed Adio, and himself represented Kwara State as athletes.
He explained that the revival of the Kwara State Sports Festival in 2000 was aimed at sustaining it as a biennial event, adding that the temporary gap was necessary due to the extensive renovation and construction of sporting facilities at the stadium complex.
According to him, the festival will not only discover and nurture talents but will also showcase the state’s cultural diversity, promote unity, and strengthen togetherness among Kwarans.
Speaking further, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Dr. Steve Olarinoye, assured that preparations were progressing smoothly, noting that over 60 percent of the organisational work had been completed ahead of the opening ceremony.
Olarinoye disclosed that about 700 male and female athletes from the 16 Local Government Areas are expected to participate in the week-long competition.
He added that each Local Government Area is expected to present a maximum of 100 athletes across the various sporting events.
The festival will officially commence with the accreditation of athletes and officials on Friday, August 21, while the opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026.
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