Lagos State lit up the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta with a show-stopping entrance at the opening ceremony of the 22nd National Sports Festival — Gateway Games 2024 — drawing loud cheers and applause from across the stadium.
With over 650 athletes representing the state across all 40 team and individual events, Team Lagos arrived not just to compete, but to inspire. Draped in striking attire and fueled by infectious energy, the Lagos contingent brought unmatched flair, unity and pride to the national stage.
The ceremony marked a powerful beginning to what is expected to be the most thrilling edition of the National Sports Festival yet. In his address, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun hailed the event as a beacon for youth development and sporting excellence in Nigeria, stating: “The Gateway Games is more than sport — it is the rise of new champions.”
From athletics and swimming to taekwondo, basketball, and para-sports, Lagos athletes are ready to go all out. Their mission is clear: to lead, to win, and to leave an unforgettable mark.
The newly refurbished MKO Abiola Sports Complex — now boasting an Olympic-standard swimming pool, digital scoreboards, floodlit tracks, and elite courts — stands as the perfect arena for dreams to be realized.
As the festival kicks into full gear, the message from Lagos is loud and clear: the Centre of Excellence has arrived, and it’s here to dominate.
Lagos lights up. Nigeria watches. Let the Games begin.
