By Gowon Akpodonor
• Delta, Edo settle for second, third places respectively
Team Bayelsa has been crowned winners of the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival, pushing Delta and Edo states to the second and third positions respectively.
Bayelsa State, won a total of 86 medals made up of 42 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze medals to top the table at the end of the festival sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The Games is the first regional sports festival in the country. Team Delta garnered 99 medals made up of 41 gold, 26 silver and 32 bronze, while Team Edo picked up 23 gold, 35 silver and 31 bronze medals, just as Rivers State was fourth with 21 gold, 16 silver and 26 bronze medals.
Ondo finished fifth with 43 medals made up of 10 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze, while host, Akwa Ibom, was sixth with nine gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze.
Team Abia with nine gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze medals was in the seventh place, followed by Team Imo (six gold, 12 silver and 24 bronze medals) and Team Cross River (five gold, seven silver and 19 bronze medals in eight and ninth positions respectively.
The Guardian recalls that Bayelsa State’s profile has grown geometrically since former wrestling champion, Daniel Igali was appointed the Sports Commissioner.
Bayelsa finished second behind Team Delta at the 2022 edition of the National Sports Festival held in Asaba.
Igali and Bayelsa State will have the opportunity to attempt another win in May when the 23rd National Sports Festival holds in Ogun State.
In what sports festival watchers may consider as upset, Team Bayelsa edged hitherto front liners, Delta and Edo states to etch its name in history.
The festival was an outstanding ensemble as across various sports during the week-long event, Bayelsa and Delta athletes ran a close race for the top spot. At the end, just one gold medal swung the contest the way of Bayelsa.
The sporting fiesta, which brought together athletes from the nine states of the Niger Delta region, showcased thrilling contests, raw talents, and exceptional competitivenessu.
Bayelsa’s victory in Uyo is expected to further boost enthusiasm for sports in the state as the athletes have proved their readiness to dominate the region in future competitions.
The success of the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival has set the tone for what promises to become a flagship event in the region’s sports calendar, with calls already mounting for the next edition to surpass the achievements recorded in Uyo.
But the Niger Delta Sports Festivals’ final result did not go down well with some officials of Team Delta, who claimed yesterday that the state was adjourned winner earlier following final results released by the organisers.
The festival did not end without some baf blood as the Director General of Delta Sports Commission, Festus Ohwojero, said in a telephone chat with The Guardian: “The results released earlier today (Tuesday) by the same organisers showed that Team Delta finished on top of the medals’ table with 41 gold, 22 silver and 31 bronze as against Bayelsa’s 37 gold, 27 silver and 15 bronze medals. We were told that Bayelsa protested. We accept the new results released by the organisers. Afterall, Bayelsa is our brother. We need to encourage them. We congratulate Daniel Igali for putting up a good fight,”
