Imoke promises new stadia in Ikom, OgojaCALABAR South and Akpabuyo local councils over the weekend dominated the third Cross River State Athletics/Swimming Championships, which held at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.Calabar South, which dominated the athletics event, won the primary school competition with six gold, five silver and six bronze medals, beating Bekwara (6, 3, 3) and Yalla councils (1, 5, 2) to the second and third positions respectively.In the secondary school category, Akpabuyo, which held sway in the swimming competition, won 10 gold, 11 silver and four bronze medals to emerge champion, with second-placed Ikom garnering nine gold, four silver and three bronze medals, while Abi had (8, 8, 6) to take the third place.All the 18 local councils participated in the championships, but Boki, Yakurr and Odukpani did not win any medal in the competition, which featured pupils from the seven to 17 years bracket.Speaking during the closing ceremony of the championships, the Commissioner for Sports, Patrick Ugbe, congratulated the winners for their feats, while promising that more events, including basketball, volleyball and football, would be added to the competition in the near future.Also speaking, Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, who said the tourney was dear to his heart, adding that the event would help 'us groom champions in athletics, swimming, education and every sphere of life.'He said: 'The children have to be made to understand that the fact that you can win a medal here means you can do better. Some local councils didn't do well and we will start to force their chairmen to show more commitment to the championships.'Next year, none of the athletes will run barefooted, and I promise that those who will enter into our special sports programme will get full scholarship. Those of them already on the programme will have their allowances increased. We will give six buses to all the schools because I want the students to become champions in all they do.'Imoke, who promised to build two standard stadia in Ikom and Ogoja, told Ugbe and the consultant to the state government, Dr. Bruce Ijirigho, to meet with him to discuss the needs of the students.
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