Rivers State government has kicked-off preparations for the staging of the 17th National Sports Festival, otherwise known as the Garden City games 2010. The state is in need of more than N2 billion to organise the Sports Festival in November 2010.

Deputy Governor of the state and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Eng. Tele Ikuru, made the revelation weekend while announcing the appointment of Mace Events Management Limited and two other firms as Marketing consultants for the Garden City Games.

Briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the Deputy Governor, represented by the Commissioner of Sports Rivers State, Hon Boma Iyaye, revealed that "the Garden City Games 2010 is envisioned and planned by Rivers state government to be the best organised National Sports Festival in history.

"We possess the capacity to do so. His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, is determined to ensure that his leadership achieves this feat", he said.

Rivers State government, he said, "has began to put in place the necessary infrastructure for the hosting of the Garden City games including the building of the Games' hostels and a new 25,000 capacity Stadium at the new Greater Port Harcourt City. Renovation works on the liberation Stadium is expected to commence soon".

On the appointment of Marketing Consultants, the Deputy Governor explained, that their engagement was to shop for the more than N2 billion required to organise the Sports festival.

Describing Mace Events Marketing Limited as "A reliable organisation with an enviable track record of events delivery", the Deputy Governor assured the marketers of the full support of the Administration of Governor Amaechi and the Local Organising Committee.

"On our side, we would ensure that the enabling ground for Mace Events Management limited to function optimally is provided, just as we task the organisation to deliver on schedule", he said.

In his remarks, Chairman Local Organising Sub-committee on Sponsorship and Marketing, Prince Billy Harry, said that the committee were thorough in searching for reliable marketing Consultants. Mace Events, he said, were found worthy and fit to perform the job. He said his members would support the consultants to ensure that they deliver.

Speaking on behalf of Mace Events Management Limited, the Chief Operating Officer, Mr Oluwafemi Makinde, assured the Rivers State Government and the LOC that Mace Events would deliver its obligations on Schedule.

"We assure the LOC that Mace Events would deliver its obligations on schedule. Our desire is to partner responsibly in the organisation of the Garden City Games, which by God's grace would become the best ever organised National Sports Festival in the history of the games in Nigeria", he stressed.