The Technical Committee of the National Council on Sports, yesterday ruled that the 21st National Sports Festival tagged Delta 2022 has been scheduled to take place between November 2 and 14, 2022 in Asaba.
Speaking shortly after the extra-ordinary National Council on Sports Meeting and Inauguration of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the hosting of the National Sports Festival in Asaba yesterday, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, handed Delta State a tall order to surpass the standard set by immediate past host of the festival, Edo State.
Dare who also unveiled members of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), urged the government of Delta State and members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to stage a Games that Nigerians will be proud of.
He said; “The names I saw in the LOC set up by Delta State are familiar names. The task is upon you. Warri no dey carry last. We saw the standard at Edo 2020, Asaba 2022 must surpass that standard. I don’t have any doubt in my mind that Delta State government will give us the best Games in 2022,” he stated.
The Sports Minister praised Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, particularly the steps he has taken in repositioning sports.
“His adoption of 12 Nigerian athletes, the biggest in the Adopt-an-athlete initiative ahead the Tokyo Olympics Games played a huge role. I am happy one of the athletes, Ese Brume got a medal. I am proud of what Okowa has done for sports.”
Dare also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for creating the environment for new and progressive ideas to thrive in sports ecosystem, revealing that the NDP 2021-2024 allocated N88billion to sports development for the first time, with youth development also got an allocation of N60billion.
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa assured the minister and other stakeholders that Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival will be the best ever.
He revealed that he was motivated to bid for the hosting of National Sports Festival following what he described as enthusiasm displayed by the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare.
“I was almost discouraged from bidding to host the sports festival because of what was happening in Nigerian sports then. But I can see the enthusiasm Sunday Dare has put in since he came on board as Sports Minister.
“Asaba 2022 will be the best in terms of infrastructure and others that will be in place in the next few months. We have the personal to stage a fun-filled and friendly sports festival from the beginning to the end,” Okowa stated.
Chairman of the LOC who also doubles as Secretary to Delta State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, said the state will host a bigger, better and athletes-based sports festival.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Delta State Sport’s Commission and co-chairman of Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival, Chief Tonobok Okowa has revealed that the state had embarked on construction of new infrastructure, including the Games Village ahead the sports festival.
After consultation with all stakeholders yesterday, both the LOC and the sports ministry agreed that arrival for Asaba 2022 sports festival is November 2nd and 3rd, opening ceremony Nov 4, closing ceremony Nov 13, departure Nov 14, while the Games village will be closed on Nov 15, 2022