500 Delta athletes begin closed camping for 8th National Youth Games

Over 500 Team Delta athletes have gone into closed camping ahead of the 8th edition of the National Youth Games. Director General of the Delta State Sports Commission, Festus Ohwojero told The Guardian, on Friday, that the closed camping followed the conclusion of the over one month opening camping organised by the Sports Commission.

According to Ohwojero, over 200 officials also entered into the closed camp with the athlete with the aim of enhancing their preparations for the games.    He warned that that unserious athletes could be replaced with those who were initially dried from the open camping, adding that they must see themselves as the state’s ambassadors and must work hard to ensure Team Delta retains its top spot at the Youth Games.

Ohwojero stated that so much had been invested by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori towards the welfare and preparations of the athletes, and that the only way to thank the Governor was to successfully defend their title haven won the last seven editions of the games since inception in 2013.

He urged the coaches and officials to take their jobs seriously as they have the backing of Governor Oborevwori to produce a formidable team that would astound the nation during the Youth Games.

He also called on parents whose wards were selected for the closed camping not to be afraid of their wards safety as everything has been put in place to ensure their security, wellbeing and development.

Meanwhile, as States prepare for the forthcoming National Youth Games to be hosted by Delta State, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the games, Solomon Ogba has appealed to leaders of State contingents to educate their young athletes on the need to maintain orderliness during the games.

Ogba made the appeal during a meeting of the LOC to appraise the work plan of the sub committees constituted for the successful organisation of the youth games scheduled to hold from September 9 to 19.

In a statement issued in Asaba by Chairman of the media and Publicity Sub Committee, Harrison Ocholor, Chief Ogba said due to the high cost of maintaining and upgrading facilities to be used for the games, it is imperative that the young athletes coming to Asaba are encouraged to be disciplined and maintain orderliness and comportment during their stay at hostel facilities which are mostly located within government and privately owned institutions of learning.

Ogba, a former commissioner for sports in Delta State, said the LOC is working round the clock to host a youth games that will showcase the ongoing transformation being witnessed in Delta State under the leadership of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori whose love for sports is unrivaled.

Ogba thanked heads of the sub committees for working round the clock to ensure that the workforce to be used are trained on how to manage the systems and processes that will make Delta State succeed in hosting athletes and officials coming for the youth games.

During the meeting of the LOC, Chairmen of sub committees made comprehensive submissions on their plan of actions that will culminate in the overall success of the 8th edition of the national youth games.