Delta wins National Sports Festival, as event ends colourfully in Abeokuta
Delta State again proved that they’re the power house of Nigerian sports when they won the National Sports Festival for the fifth straight time on Thursday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital
The state known as Heartbeat of the Nation amazed a total of 322 medals made up of 122 gold, 95 silver, and 105 bronze medals to be declared winner of the 22nd edition of the festival.
Delta started the Game slowly but as the days went by, it came out strongly to take over from Bayelsa which it condmned to the second position at the end of hostilities.
Host state Ogun came third, Rivers took the fourth position while Edo State came fifth.
Declaring the festival close President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was represented by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio commended Ogun State for organising a seamless festival just as he commended the athletes and officials for showing good sportsmanship throughout the two weeks duration of the festival.
According to the President, his government will continue to create enabling environment for the development of the country’s sports sector noting that sports is a critical sector that not only empowers the youths but create millions of employment opportunities for them.
He expressed his happiness that records were broken at the games, new records set and talents discovered even as he congratulated the winners and urged the losers not to be discouraged by their performance.
Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun expressed delight that his state was able to host the best games in the history of the festival and commended the Federal Government and the leadership of the National Sports Commission for their support.
Earlier in his speech, Chairman of National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko while commending Ogun State for the excellent facilities provided for the festival noted that the games was not about winning as it enabled athletes to compete among themselves , share ideas and build bridges of friendship
Highlight of the closing ceremony was the handing over of the 23rd edition flag to Enugu State
