Delta rules Edo 2020, to host festival in 2022
Photo: Delta Sports Commission chairman, Tonobok Okowa and other officials with the festival trophy which Delta won.
By George Aluo
It is Delta all the way as far as the National Sports Festival is concerned.
Apart from winning Edo 2020, the state is to host the next games billed for next year.
Delta amassed a total of 158 gold medals to rule Edo 2020 and retain the position having won the last festival held in Abuja.
Edo 2020 ended in a grandstyle with a colourful closing ceremony that had live musical performances spiced with the relays finals that held the scanty spectators at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin spellbound.
Host Edo State trailed in second position with 129 Gold with Bayelsa state emerging third best with 56 Gold.
One of the high points of the Festival was the feat of 10 year old Stephanie Onusiriuka of Team Anambra who won gymnastic gold, 2 silvers 1 bronze as well as the outstanding 15 medal haul of Gbagbe Ifiaezibe of Team Bayelsa.
Top female athlete Grace Nwokocha also qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after winning the 100m and 200m events.
Sports minister Sunday Dare announced Delta’s hosting right while declaring Edo 2020 closed.
“Congratulations to Delta State for emerging the overall winner of the Games of the 2020 National sports Festival. I’m glad to note that the Federal Government received bids to host the 21st edition of the National sports Festival in 2022 from 6 states namely: Delta, Ebonyi, Imo, Kaduna, Kano and Ogun. Following the evaluation of the bids and the physical visitation to the prospective States, I hereby announce Delta State as the next host of the National sports Festival in 2022. I Congratulate the Government and people of Delta State for emerging the preferred State and wish them best of luck in the organisation of the 21st National sports Festival,” Dare stated.
