Delta set to display rich tradition as fiesta opens

• Traders commend Oborevwori over business opportunities

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Eighth National Youth Games, tagged “Asaba 2024,” has promised to showcase Delta State’s rich tradition at tomorrow’s opening ceremony of youth sporting fiesta.

Delta State is hosting the National Youth Games for the second time after staging the seventh edition in 2023. This year’s Games, which started yesterday, will run till September 19 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

Chairman of the LOC, Chief Solomon Ogba, said that tomorrow’s opening ceremony would capture a variety of things, particularly the rich traditions of the people.

“Delta State has very rich tradition, and we are going to display some of them on Wednesday. As you all know, sports and music go together. Some of our top musicians will be on the ground to thrill the young athletes and visitors on Wednesday,” Ogba stated.

Over 5,000 athletes from different states of the federation are taking part in the Games.
Meanwhile, traders in Asaba and its environs are excited about the business opportunities that the Games present, and are thankful to the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, for his commitment to sustaining the hosting of the Games in Asaba.

Some of the traders had already stationed their wares and stuff, both within and outside the premises of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, since Friday, September 7, and through the weekend, awaiting the arrival of the contingents.

Many of the traders said they had been anticipating the games to take advantage of the huge business opportunities it presents for them.

“As you can see, we are already setting up and the stadium environment is already bubbling with various businesses as we await the arrival of the states’ contingents,” one of the traders, who simply identified herself as Ugochi, enthused.

“You know, business is about numbers and you can imagine the possible business prospects and turnover with the convergence of over 5,000 athletes and officials for about 10 days here. This is outside the thousands of spectators who will be flocking in daily for the period of the competition. 

“It is a good time for our small businesses because, with the atmosphere of the games in these ten days, one can make more than he or she does in four or five months in a corner shop. That is because of the numbers, even if you are selling only pure water.

“The businesses here are diverse; from foods/drinks to clothes, shoes and electronic gadgets, devices and accessories, sundry fashion stuff, household items, artifacts, and more.

“Many of the traders here were around during the National Sports Festival and the last Youth Games and they are back again because business was good. We have been praying for the state to host such an event again and we are very grateful to the Governor for his commitment to hosting the Youth Games, which has come again with business opportunities.