Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa has called on participating athletes of the 21st National Sports Festival to strive for excellence as they compete for the medals in the 10-day Sports Fiesta, which he flagged off Wednesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
He said Delta State and the local organising committee worked round the clock to ensure all the facilities were ready and it was up to the athletes to put into practice the training they have been undergoing since the announcement for the NSF was made.
“The Nationals Sports Festival is a premium event in the country,” Okowa.
“It is a ground for the discovery of budding talents and also a veritable tool for national unity.
“Since Delta was awarded the hosting rights, the state government and the local organising committee have been working really hard to meet the expectations of Nigerians and so I called on the athletes to show us what they have been training for.”
Also speaking was President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Sport Minister Sunday Dare. In his speech, Buhari called for more investment in sports to boost the industry and offer opportunities for more youths to excel in whatever sports they participated in.
Other dignitaries who were at the opening ceremony include Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.
In the first event of the day Team Delta picked the first gold medal. Delta cyclists beat three other states, Oyo, Plateau and Lagos to emerge winners in the 12km mixed relay decided on Ibusa road.
While Delta won in 35mins 41.84secs, Oyo got silver in 37 minutes 29.84 and Plateau cyclists grabbed bronze in 39minutes 38.61secs. Lagos finished fourth in 40 minutes 02.04secs
Two other states, Edo and Rivers were disqualified for their inability to present the minimum three female cyclists required for the event.
The Technical Director, Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Bashir Mohammed disclosed this to journalists.
Delta is the defending champion of the National Sports festival, having finished top on the medals table at Edo 2020 edition held in Benin City. Delta State has won seven times in nine appearances.