The cream of the Nigerian sporting media which was in Port Harcourt at the weekend for the flag hoisting ceremony of the Garden City 2011 National Sports Festival, have been heaping praises on the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, after touring facilities for the Games.

The facility tour which was conducted by tireless Information Commissioner, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, left many of the top journalist convinced that the festival will not only be a success in terms of competition but also in the standards of facilities put in place.

Former National President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria; Olu Amadasun, described what he saw in Port Harcourt as eye-popping and a move from just talking to action.

Adekunle Salami, who is the Group Sports Editor of Punch, said it was simply unbelievable that a state could muster the resources Rivers did to put such world class facilities in place for the Games. “I’m really short of words to describe what we are seeing today, and I hope other states who are bidding to host the festival will borrow a leaf from Rivers.

Vanguard’s Hector Igbikiowubo, described the facilities he saw as simply unbelievable. “Even, if you are not a sports journalist, you can see that the facilities are world class, roads are being constructed everywhere and Port Harcourt City is in gay mood for a festival of sports.

Others who spoke in similar mood were Tony Ubani, the Sports Editor of Vanguard, ThisDay’s Duro Ikhazuagbe, Ben Memuletiwon of SportsDay, Dapo Sotiminu, Isiaku Kigbu, and Calistus Ebare of AIT, who said there should be a special award for Rivers for preparing for the festival as if it was an Olympic Games.

Governor Amaechi, in his usual candour will not be taken in by all the praises as he simply said at the weekend that he would deliver on his promise to make the Garden City Festival the best ever in organization and participation. “We are receiving praises from all corners of the country but we will not relent until we give Nigerians a semblance of the Olympic Games come Garden City 2011”, he said through Information anchor, Ibim Semenitari.