The third edition of the North Central Catch Them Young Gymnastics Festival is set to take place in Abuja on September 26, with about 90 schools from across the Federal Capital Territory participating. The event, organised by the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria, will be held at the Package B Gymnasium of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. This one-day festival aims to identify young talents and provide them with a structured pathway to develop their skills.
According to Prince Kelvin Erhunwunse, President of the Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria and Vice President of the African Gymnastics Union, about 900 children are expected to participate in the festival, with each school presenting 10 pupils. He stated that the festival's model is simple: 90 schools presenting 10 children each, resulting in 900 children and 90 new clubs in the FCT in one day. This initiative is part of the federation's plan to build a sustainable grassroots pipeline for gymnastics in Nigeria.
The 'Catch Them Young' programme is a nationwide talent-identification tour, with one state from each geopolitical zone targeted per edition before rotating until all 36 states are covered. Earlier editions were held in Edo State, where 45 clubs and 450 children took part, and in the North-East. The programme aims to close the talent gap in Nigerian gymnastics by identifying young talents early and providing them with opportunities to develop their skills.
The Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria has set a national target of producing 30,000 young gymnasts and creating more than 1,000 jobs for coaches by the end of 2028. Erhunwunse stated that the federation is working towards achieving this target through initiatives like the 'Catch Them Young' programme. The programme is being run in partnership with the Turkish Gymnastics Federation, the National Sports Commission, and the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
Outstanding children and participating schools will benefit from international scholarship and exchange programmes secured by the federation with gymnastics authorities and partners in Turkey, Japan, China, and Azerbaijan. These opportunities will expose the young athletes to foreign training systems, coaching expertise, and competitive experience, helping them to develop their skills further.
The Abuja festival is themed “Building Bridges, Renewing Hope for the Future Generation”. The event is expected to provide a platform for young gymnasts to showcase their talents and potentially secure international opportunities. The partnership with foreign gymnastics authorities and partners is seen as a significant step towards achieving the federation's goals.
The Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria is committed to building a sustainable grassroots pipeline for gymnastics in the country. With the 'Catch Them Young' programme, the federation aims to identify and develop young talents, providing them with opportunities to excel in the sport. The success of the programme will be crucial in achieving the federation's national targets and helping Nigeria to become a powerhouse in gymnastics.
Key points
- The third edition of the North Central Catch Them Young Gymnastics Festival will take place in Abuja on September 26, with 90 schools from the Federal Capital Territory participating.
- The Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria aims to produce 30,000 young gymnasts and create over 1,000 jobs for coaches by the end of 2028.
- The 'Catch Them Young' programme is a nationwide talent-identification tour aimed at identifying young talents and providing them with opportunities to develop their skills.
