Edo 2020: Ogba writes off host, insists Delta will rule games
.Takes measures to prevent coronavirus
By George Aluo
Former Delta state sports commissioner, Evangelist Solomon Ogba has declared that Delta would win the Edo 2020 sports festival which kicks off this weekend in Benin.
Ogba in a release made available to newstap.com.ng stated that the tradition of Delta winning the games would not be broken in neighboring Edo state.
“In Delta, we don’t do sports just because of the NSF, sports is a way of life for us, it is a daily thing. We have sports at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. We have training and competitions for our athletes regularly. After this NSF, we have the Delta State Inter Local Government Championships. We also have a solid elite athlete development programme, so in Delta, sports is not a one-off thing, it is a way of life” said Ogba.
Ogba further disclosed that Delta is going to Benin with the health of her athletes in mind as it affects the deadly coronavirus.
He stated that the state has released a set of intervening measures aimed at protecting her contingent from Coronavirus at the games which starts March 22 and ends April 1.
The measures are not exclusive to the Delta contingent, it will also protect athletes, officials, the media and other participants at the festival, Nigeria’s equivalent of the Olympic Games.
According to Solomon Ogba, consultant to Team Delta and Delta State Sports Commission, these interventions include but are not limited to the following,
“The measures we put in place includes appropriate self-isolation period for all participants based outside Nigeria. This will be in specially designated hotels. We have made provision of 1000 wipes and hand sanitizers for all athletes and officials. We also have fully automated temperature change monitors that will be operated by health professionals.’’
Other measures put in place includes round-the-clock surveillance of contact of Delta State athletes with participants representing other states.