By Ayodele Oni
The Second Niger Delta Games being hosted by Edo State is expected to attract over 3000 athletes and officials from nine Oil Producing States.
The event which will feature 17 sports, including football and a cultural night, will hold from 20th to 27th February this year and is being sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Chairman of organizing committee of the Niger Delta Games (NDGs), Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo, disclosed this during an interactive session with members of the Edo State Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Benin City on Wednesday.
He stressed that participating athletes who must not exceed 20 years of age must be indigenes of the participating States.
Ikpokpo, while noting that grassroots is at local government level, advised that efforts should be made to take talents hunt to that level to discover more sports talents for the country.
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.”
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.
He called on Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) to look beyond Uyo Stadium for the hosting of international football tournaments and come to Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, which he said is as good as Uyo stadium.
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