Delta prepares 1,000 athletes for 21st National sports festival

• MOC tasks journalists on accreditation

Host, Delta State, is preparing a contingent of about 1,000 athletes for the 21st National Sports Festival, which will begin in Asaba on November 28 and end on December 10. The number is the largest ever witnessed in the history of the Festival.

Team Delta began its final phase of camping for the Games, yesterday, with about 1000 athletes drawn from all sports. Head of Delta State athletics team, Coach Seigha Porbeni disclosed that track and field athletes are using the Sapele Stadium as preparatory ground, and will relocate to Asaba on November 26, a few days to the opening ceremony.

“We have about 950 to 1000 athletes at the moment preparing in the final phase. Series of construction work is going on at Stephen Keshi Stadium, which is the main venue of the Games. But luckily for us, Delta State has so many sporting facilities.

“The former College of Education, Asaba, is now a technical college for secondary school students. It has two big outdoor halls, a court for basketball, handball and volleyball. Our swimmers are operating at Obiaruku pending when they will move to Asaba. Our cyclists are preparing at Agbor, while our combat sports, including wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, kickboxing and boxing are busy with their daily activities.

“Our table tennis team, football and other teams are doing well. In Delta, we always give our athletes the best of preparation ahead of major events. Our governor wants the best for Delta 2022 National Sports Festival and our aim is to get the best result,” Porbeni stated.

Meanwhile, the Main Organising Committee (MOC) has called on journalists wishing to cover Delta 2022 to submit their accreditation form.