A Lagos assembled team as well as host – Lagos Preparatory School (LPS) are among the six teams that will kick-start the maiden Dolphin Swimming League, which kicks off on Saturday January 20 in Lagos.
Already, preparations have been concluded for the colourful opening ceremony as the management of the LPS is doing everything possible to ensure a hitch-free tournament.
With the presence of the President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, Babatunde Fatayi-Williams as well as officials of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) led by its chairman, Kweku Tandoh, the inter-school tournament will officially take off at the Lagos Preparatory School in Ikoyi.
The Lagos and LPS teams will compete against Children International School, Lekki British School, St. Saviours School and Ikeja-based Greenville School in the opening tournament.
According to the initiator and CEO of Dynaspro, Oluseyi Oyebode, the much-anticipated kick off of the tournament would witness large turnout of sports stakeholders as the tournament would help to unearth new talents for Lagos.
For the headmaster of LPS, Nicholas Barrett, the school is ready to host and identify with the tournament which they believe would help unearth talents for Nigeria. “LPS is pleased to be hosting the inaugural Dolphin Swimming League meet and we see this initiative as paving the way to improving swimming standards in Nigeria and giving the opportunity to those children who show some promise in the discipline. Over the next few months, six schools will be competing in a series of galas around Lagos and the hope is that if this series is successful, there will be many more schools clamouring to participate next year, with the competition going nationwide,” he said.
Barrett added: “At LPS, we are keen to support this initiative as we believe in offering more than a narrow academic education by supporting children in their areas of strength whatever they might be. We welcome many high ranking and influential members of the Nigerian society who are attending this gala as a sign of their staunch support for this new venture. Like us, they see it as a first step to finding future Nigerian Olympic swimmers who can compete competitively on the world stage. As a sign of our commitment, this event is organised and attended by many of the LPS faculty and student body who see the Dolphin Swimming League as a vital part of school life and who want to take a full part in this special day.”
Aside from the competition, the organizers intend to use the tournament to grow the sport by improving the technical know-how of coaches.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Advanta Interactive Global Limited – marketing firm of the tournament, Efe Ojigbede, the opening ceremony promises to be exciting as a lot of fun activities have been lined up for the participants.