5th December, 2012
The race to the top spot of the 18th National Sports Festival, tagged ‘Eko 2012’ is getting tougher, but Team Delta have shot to the lead, while Team Rivers State are following them on the medals table.
Rivers State hosted the 17th edition of the festival last year and proudly won the Games to justify their slogan of ‘hosting to win’.
And, coming from the second position at the 2011 Garden Games, Team Delta, with their hard working Commissioner for Sports, Pinnick Amaju, have left no one in doubt of their ability to win this year’s editon since the beginning of the ongoing festival in Lagos. Delta, who are currently leading the medals table are in pole position to dethrone the defending champions, Team Rivers and cart home the winning prize of N20m, a largesse promised by President Goodluck Jonathan.
As at today, Delta are leading the log with 130 medals with the breakdown showing that they have won 53 gold, 45 silver and 32 bronze medals, while Team Rivers are trailing with 37 gold, 24 silver and 27 bronze; a total of 88 medals.
Team Lagos are in distant third with 21 gold, 23 silver and 34 bronze medals.
With the swimming and athletics events, which have the highest numbers of medals at stake still on at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, all eyes are on Delta, and it appears that Rivers would have to stuggle to defend their title in Lagos. Former champions, Team Edo making a weak competition for medals in this edition.