By Gbenga Olarinoye, Osogbo

About 3,000 competitors are expected to participate at the 17th edition of Nigerian Polytechnic Games (NIPOGA) that would hold at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State between 6th and 12th of December, 2011.

The President of “NIPOGA 2011” who also is the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Dr. Joseph S. Oke disclosed this while unveiling the Mascot of the game at the institution.

Oke disclosed that 500 officials will officiate at the game where fourteen different events will be competed for by about 60  polytechnics and colleges of technology across the country.

To ensure a hitch free event, the Chairman said that the institution will commit N200 million to upgrade the existing facilities and construct new ones while the Education Trust Fund has vowed to spend N50 million to construct indoor sports hall that would cater for indoor games apart from other interested parties that would also compliment the efforts of the Institution.

According to the Rector, events to be competed for include: Athletics, Handball, Squash Racket, Tennis, Badminton, Hockey, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball and Soccer, Table Tennis, Judo, others are Chess, Scrabble and Taekwondo while swimming will not come up this year because of lack of necessary facilities.

Oke who assured competitors and officials of adequate security said that the council is working with security agencies to ensure a crime free event adding that the council has resolved to put in placefacilities that would expose the activities of hoodlums that might be out to disrupt the game.

The Chairman disclosed that adequate measures have been put in place to expose the use of machineries adding that any institution found to employ the use of machinery to excel will found itself to blame.

Narrating the first ever electronic animated mascot to be used in NIPOGA, Mr. Solomon Oluyemi Omotosho, the chairman, Media & Publicity Committee said the three elements of the mascot i.e the spring water, the fish and the water oozing from the fish’s mouth symbolizes peace, unity, love, friendship and harmony not only among institutions but also among tribes and nations.

Omotosho said apart from the electronic mascot, the committee has put in place a full database and interactive website which would allow users from anywhere in the world with internet access to have real-time information about the game adding thatsports lovers, media agencies that will not be physically present will have the opportunity to follow the game on real-time mode from anywhere in the world.