11th July, 2011
Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Council, Amaju Pinnick, has expressed satisfaction with the position of the state on the Medals table released by the Local Organising Committee of the 17th National Sports Festival, tagged Garden City Games.
Pinnick, while addressing journalists at the Hotel Presidential, said Delta State was the undisputed leaders of sports in Nigeria as, according to him, the state has a solid structure to make athletes to excel at any competition, stressing that the state gives life and future to its athletes and sports officials.
According to him, the state government sponsored its athletes to different countries across of the world to prepare for the Garden City Games. He said the state’s swimmers went to France, the athletics went to Qatar while others went to United States of America for training.
Pinnick, who explained that 60 athletes and officials went to South Africa for training ahead of te Games, said Delta State won decently. He stressed that the state has a good welfare package for its athletes which is why athletes across the nation want to adorn the state’s colours in any competition.
He said the state’s sports commission was the power behind the success recorded in sporting activities as the system allows for continuity, consistency and is result-oriented.
He called for a sports festival where elite athletes would have opportunity to compete in the championship.
On the 2012 Lagos National Sports Festival, Pinnick said Delta State’s athletes would also embarked on a tour of Europe to prepare for the Games.