The Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, has begun its bi-annual sports competition for the year 2022, with 300 athletes competing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the athletes were drawn from the headquarters of the AFCSC, Land warfare, Maritime warfare, and Air warfare units.

The Special Guest of Honour at the event, Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, on Monday in Kaduna, said the event was aimed at improving the emotional intelligence of the personnel.

According to him, sports also improve the character development of the participants.

He urged the participants and officials to display good principles of sportsmanship by focusing on the competition.

Earlier, the Commandant of AFCSC, AVM Olurotimi Tuwase, said the bi-annual sports week was a veritable tool the college uses in developing the physical fitness of all staff and students, as well as fostering cohesion among the participants.

Tuwase, represented by the Deputy Commandant of the College, Rear Admr. Mustapha Hassan, said the sporting event, which was disrupted by COVID-19 in 2020, came at the right time considering the crucial role of sports.

He urged the participants to exhibit a good spirit of sportsmanship by being gracious in defeat and accommodating in victory.

He urged the umpires and referees to be fair to all participants.

NAN reports that a total of 14 sporting events feature during the sports week, namely football, tennis, volleyball, handball, swimming, squash, badminton, golf, Basketball, scrabble, and tug of war, among others.