AFRICAN SENIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP -ASABA 2018: Mobilizing Deltans For The Fiesta - By Ocholor Harrison i

The true success of any sports event anywhere in the world is the mobilization and active involvement of residents and citizens that city or country.

No effort is spared by government in ensuring that the people get more involved in the activities leading to the event and the event proper. 

From Agbor to Kwale, from Ozoro to Sapele, from Bomadi to Isele-Ukwu, and from Asaba to Orerokpe etc, the Deltans must be part of the Championship.

What I have witnessed in my years of traveling to cover sports events is that the people are educated and encouraged to take ownership of the sports event, and this can only happen through aggressive mobilization.

In this part of the world, the best approach is through the electronic and print media and town hall meetings.

The use of English, Pidgin and local dialects to galvanize support are very much important at the very early stages of the mobilization plan.

Markets, schools, motor parks, churches, mosques should be visited by the teams.

The joy of government is to see a full stadium when competition commences,so there is the need to start aggressive mobilization early enough because the championship is time lined and just weeks away.

During the period of the championship, it is advisable that government declares half work day for the opening and closing sessions, to allow civil servants attend the events in large numbers.

The Ministry of basic and secondary education can put together a plan that makes it possible for school pupils and students to attend the morning sessions of the championship.

We will host well if we mobilize our people to be part of the success of the Championship.