Delta inaugurates LGs Sports Festival Committee

The Delta State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) yesterday inaugurated the Central Organising Committee for its maiden Delta State Local Governments Sports Festival.

Chairman of Delta ALGON, Sir Constantine Ikpokpo, revealed that the programme, the first of kind in the country, is an effort by the local governments to contribute their quota towards the development and promotion of grassroots sports in “realisation that more needs to be done to frequently oil the talent mill to produce more athletes that can represent Delta State and Nigeria in various national and international events.”

The committee, which is chaired by Prince Kelly Penawou, Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Local Government Affairs, comprises two local council chairmen from each zone of the state, a selection of notable Delta State sports personalities and veteran and seasoned sportsmen and administrators, including Yusuf Ali and Seigha Porbeni.

Prince Penawou commended the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for expressly endorsing the festival and agreeing to be its Chief Ambassador.

Harrison Ocholor, Managing Director of Hightime Media Management Limited, the project consultants, informed that the first edition scheduled for October 2020 will feature athletics, boxing, football, tennis, swimming, chess and scrabble.

In order to raise the profile of the event and inspire competition among participants, the organisers said the event would be open to all categories and ages of athletes, indigene or resident in the local councils.

“We have no problems with top international, national or state athletes competing with junior athletes. It is all good for the event and doesn’t hamper talent discovery. It will rather inspire junior athletes to aspire to be at their best and their performance in terms of time and distance will determine if they are materials to be groomed for higher events.”