AS expected, the trials for the selection of the Delta State contingent to the second Niger Delta Games have attracted a huge crowd of athletes in Asaba, the state capital.

This year’s edition of the Games, organised by Dunamis-Icon for the nine states that make up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) region, will be held in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 27.
Last year in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Team Delta was beaten to the title by Bayelsa State with just one gold medal on the last day of competition.

This time around, Team Delta is not leaving anything to chance.

Yesterday, Delta officials explained that due to the large turnout of athletes, they decided to split the trials into two phases, with the first phase running from Friday, February 6, to February 8.
The Chairman of the Delta Sports Commission, Onoriode Oborievwori, stated that the final trials will run from February 9 to 11.

“After these two phases of the trials, our athletes will begin main camping for the Niger Delta Games on February 12. At the moment, we have 374 athletes and 51 officials set for this exercise.

“Our athletes will be camped in various locations in Asaba, and they will depart for Benin City on February 19,” Oborevwori stated.

Among the sports expected to feature in Team Delta’s trials are athletics, chess, table tennis, tennis, scrabble, handball, wrestling, football, volleyball, swimming, taekwondo, powerlifting, basketball, boxing and weightlifting.

Over 3000 athletes and 500 officials will participate in this year’s 2nd Niger Delta Games.