Over 3000 athletes to feature in Niger Delta games

By Jethro Ibileke

No fewer than 3,000 athletes and and officials from nine Oil Producing States, will participate at the 2nd Niger Delta Games being hosted by Edo State.

The event which will feature 17 sporting activities, including football and a cultural night, will hold from February 20 to 27.

The event is sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Chairman of Dunamis Icons Limited, organizers of the Niger Delta Games (NDGs), Itiako Ikpokpo, disclosed this on Wednesday in Benin City, during an interactive session with members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).

He noted that participating athletes who must not exceed 20 years of age must be indigenes of the participating States.

Ikpokpo advised that efforts should be made to take talents hunt to the grassroot level to discover more sports talents for the country, noting that grassroots is at local government level.

He pointed out that States are not doing enough to elevate sports development, adding that low budgetary provisions for sports by States of the federation was far below what is required to uplift sports development.

“We must go back to Schools Sports to discover more young talents for the country. There is need to elevate conversation on sports in the country.

“The reason why sports has not become money spinner is because of the manner sports is being managed by administrators,” Ikpokpo said.

He said it was shameful that across the country, cheating is allowed to go on in sports, urging all hands to be on deck to stop the trend.

The Dunamis Icons boss who fielded questions from journalists, called on NFF to look beyond Uyo Stadium for the hosting international football tournaments and come to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, which he said is as good as Uyo stadium.