Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, has become the focal point of the 9th National Youth Sports Festival (NYSF) as over 1,200 athletes and officials from across the North Central region gather for the zonal eliminations.

The event, serving as the qualifying stage for team sports ahead of the national finals in Delta State later this year, began with athlete screenings on Saturday and will conclude on Monday.

Originally assigned to Nasarawa State, the hosting rights were transferred to Kwara after Nasarawa failed to meet the required organisational standards. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq intervened, directing the state to cover the costs to ensure the games proceeded on schedule.

Zonal Coordinator Saka Akeem praised the swift action, calling Kwara's intervention "a lifeline" for the festival.

"We are immensely grateful to Governor AbdulRazaq for saving the day. Our impression since arrival has been very positive," he said.

Nine sports are being contested in Ilorin: football, basketball, volleyball, handball, beach volleyball, hockey, rugby, cricket, abula, and baseball/softball. Only the top two teams in each discipline will qualify for the national finals.