Delta 2022 National Sports Festival: Athletes arrive Asaba ahead Wednesday flag-off

• Torch of Unity begins tour of Councils
Athletes from different parts of the country will start arriving Asaba, Delta State, today and tomorrow ahead of Wednesday’s opening ceremony of the 21st National Sports Festival.

Delta won the bid to host the fiesta, which is Nigeria’s version of the Olympics Games, at the end of the last edition held in Benin City, Edo State, last year.

Since then, Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the vice presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, has put a lot of structures in place to actualise his dream of delivering the best ever Games.

Among the facilities built for Delta 2022 Games are two brand new indoor sports halls, a new swimming pool, a new tartan track, a new shooting range, all within the Stephen Keshi Stadium, as well as a new hockey pitch at Okpanam.

Governor Okowa has also constructed new hostel facilities at the NYSC camp at Issele-Uku and in various schools within Asaba.

A total of 11, 000 athletes will participate in Delta 2022 National Sports Festival, which is about 2,000 more than the number that participated at the last edition in Edo State.

Secretary of Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chris Anazia, confirmed yesterday that today and tomorrow is for arrival of contingent from different states.

“We are set to receive athletes from the various states on Monday and Tuesday. The opening ceremony will hold on Wednesday. I am sure the athletes, coaches and sports administrators will enjoy their stay in Delta. I wish everyone safe journey to Asaba,” Anazia stated.

Anazia, who is the Director General of Delta State Sports Commission, added: “Whenever Delta agrees to do anything, we always go for the best. We are not just going to host a sports festival, but the best ever in the history of the Games.”

Meanwhile, the festival’s Torch of Unity, which has been moving round the country, has arrived Delta State. It will begin a tour around all the local council headquarters, where chairmen and council officials will have a feel of it.

According to the Adviser to the LOC, Chief Solomon Ogba, the festival’s Torch of Unity will arrive in Asaba on November 30, the day of the opening ceremony.

He added: “The flag hoisting ceremony for Delta 2022 National Sports Festival will hold at 4.00 p.m. on the opening day.”

The first event at the Asaba 2022 will be cycling, which will begin in the early hours of Wednesday.

Delta 2022 National Sports festival will end on December 10.