14, 000 Athletes Hunt For Medals As National Sports Festival Kicks Off
As Delta 2022 National Sports Festival finally commences, the minister of youth and sports development, Mr Sunday Dare, has said that about 14000 youth athletes from the 36 States of the federation and FCT will be competing in over 30 different sports, including football, basketball, wrestling among others.
Dare, who disclosed this ahead of Wednesday’s opening ceremony, expressed optimism that the competition will unearth new sets of athletes that will compete favourably with their counterparts globally.
“I am optimistic that at the end of the competition, budding talents will emerge and the country will witness more podium performances through them in subsequent global competitions,” he said
The Minister commended the Delta State government for its dogged determination towards ensuring the reality of Delta 2022 and also for providing our teeming Youth with the opportunity to showcase their sporting talents.
While stressing that the Games will also help in strengthening the unity of Nigerians, Dare called on participating states to go all out for medals.
He therefore called on all sports loving Nigerians to create time to grace the festival, saying that the National Sports Festival is the “Nigerian Olympics”.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) of the festival and permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar said the Delta 2022 provides an avenue for uniting Nigerians.
He also stated that the Festival will inspire the next generation towards developing their sporting potentials, in line with the theme, ‘Uniting Nigerians, inspiring the next Generations’.