The organisers of the Niger Delta Games have affirmed that the festival is designed for only athletes from the region, saying that no state would be allowed to field mercenaries at the festival.
 
The organisers also assured states of adequate support to prepare their athletes for the Games, which second edition will hold in Benin, Edo State, next year.
 
Speaking during a parley with media representatives in Lagos, yesterday, Managing Director of Dunamis Icon Limited, consultants for the Niger Delta Games, Itiako Ikpokpo, said that the Games, which age limit has been reduced to 20 years, is aimed at discovering fresh talents from the region, adding that states are expected to groom their indigenous athletes for the competition.

 “We have the machinery to monitor and ensure that all the states adhere to the rules. The Niger Delta Games is not a jamboree for all comers. It is a deliberate programme aimed at raising the standard of sports in the region and Nigeria as a whole.

 “Our aim is to ensure that all the ills that have hampered sports development in the country do not happen in the Niger Delta Games.” To ensure a level-playing ground for all the participating states, Ikpokpo said that every state is coming to the games with equal number of athletes, adding, “We will ensure that all the athletes are well-trained on standard facilities to bring out the best in them.”
 
Promising that the 2026 edition of the games will be an improvement on the first edition held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, this year, Ikpokpo assured that the states’ contingents would be accommodated in a befitting camp, conducive enough to push them to the best of their ability.
 
“The Niger Delta Games is built to give the states opportunities to test their budding athletes through competitions. We are going further to encourage the states to harness talented athletes and expose them to facilities that will enhance their growth.
 
“AT the last Games in Uyo, we discovered and penciled down 654 talented youngsters, who are potential champions that would be encouraged to grow.
 
“We are talking with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to see how we can use the Performance Centre in the University of Port Harcourt to train the athletes discovered at the games. We don’t want to own athletes, but we will encourage the states to take them further after the games.”
 
He said that each state is expected to feature 270 athletes in 17 sporting events.  Also speaking at the parley, the technical director of the games, Godiwn Enarkhena, said that the organisation is particular about Olympic sports, adding that the emphasis is not on winning medals at the Niger Delta Games.

 “AT the Niger Delta Games, it is not about who finished first. We have coaches and scouts who are looking out for the kids with potential, who can grow to become world champions.
 
“For instance, we have a set of boxers that have been projected to be the country’s next set of Commonwealth and Olympic Games boxers. That is why we reduced the age limit to 20.”