The 6th edition of Delta State Sports Festival has ended at Ozoro, headquarters of Isoko North local government area of the state with Warri North council emerging the winner with 37 gold, 31 silver and 57 bronze.
Declaring the festival closed, the state governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa promised his administration’s commitment to ensure that the state will continue to excel in national sports events, reiterating government’s determination to ensure that the state continues to play a leading role in the development of sports in the country.
The governor who promised to make the Sports Festival a yearly event aimed at providing more avenues for youths to productively engage in sporting activities, opined that “It is an open secret that the constant successes achieved by Delta State in national competitions is largely due to this grassroots support for sports.”
Okowa who commended various local government areas for contributing to the promotion of sports at the grassroots, observed that sporting activities are vital areas where “Our young men and women can be meaningfully engaged; they keep the young ones busy and away from delinquent behaviours and youth restiveness in all ramifications; besides, it also gives opportunity to develop their talents on their way to national and international prominence.”
The governor vowed to support sports development through the reintroduction of the School Sports Competition and commended the Sports Commission and the athletes for their contributions to sports development.
On his part, the Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, acknowledged the contributions of Delta State in taking Nigeria to greater heights through sports development, adding that the state has produced quality sportsmen and women who have represented the country in major sporting events in Africa and other parts of the world.
Dalung used the occasion to commend the state governor for his commitment to sports development as according to him, sports had contributed immensely to the sustenance of peace in the state.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission and brother to the state governor, Mr. Tonobok Okowa disclosed that talents discovered during the festival would be assets to the state in future National and International sporting activities.
Governor Okowa alongside the Sports Minister and Deputy Governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro later presented trophies to the winners of the Festival.
HardReporters Sports correspondent reports that, Warri North local government area clinched the first position with 39 gold medals to beat its closest rival, Oshimili South local government area which got 30 gold medals, while Ukwuani local government area got 29 gold medals.
Below is a rundown of how all the local government areas in the state performed at the festival.
1st. Warri North, 37 gold, 31 silver, 57 bronze.
2nd. Oshimili South, 29 gold, 32 silver, 34 bronze.
3rd. Aniocha South, 27 gold, 13 silver, 18 bronze.
4th. Ukwuani, 26 gold, 15 silver, 20 bronze.
5th. Ika North East, 25 gold, 22 silver, 22 bronze.
6th. Oshimili North, 23 gold, 12 silver, 27 bronze.
7th. Burutu, 18 gold, 28 silver, 25 bronze.
8th. Okpe, 17 gold, 21 silver, 28 bronze.
9th. Ethiope East, 16 gold, 20 silver, 16 bronze.
10th. Aniocha North, 16 gold, 14 silver, 20 bronze.
11th. Warri South, 16 gold, 8 silver, 33 bronze.
12th. Patani, 15 gold, 5 silver, 18 bronze.
13th. Ughelli North, 15 gold, 16 silver, 23 bronze.
14th. Ika South, 14 gold, 10 silver, 13 bronze.
15th. Ethiope East, 13 gold, 8 silver, 10 bronze.
16th. Ughelli South, 12 gold, 10 silver, 12 bronze.
17th. Sapele, 11 gold, 22 silver, 27 bronze.
18th. Uvwie, 11 gold, 9 silver, 17 bronze.
19th. Warri South West, 9 gold, 9 silver, 12 bronze.
20th. Isoko South, 8 gold, 10 silver, 13 bronze.
21th. Ndokwa West, 6 gold, 5 silver, 10 bronze.
22th. Ndokwa East, 4 gold, 12 silver, 24 bronze.
23th. Udu, 4 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze.
24th. Isoko North, 3 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze.
25th. Bomadi, 2 gold, 13 silver, 11 bronze.
The previous winners of the Delta State Unity Games are;
1. Zone A. Capital Territory, Asaba, 1988. 1st edition.
2. Zone B Ika/Ukwuani, Agbor, 2000, 2nd edition.
3. Ika South LGA. Agbor, 2001, 3rd edition.
4. Ika South LGA. Agbor, 2004, 4th edition and 5. Ethiope West LGA. Oghara, 2005, 5th edition.
