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The 21st National Sports Festival has come and gone but the two-week event leaves some unforgettable moments in the minds of sports loving Nigerians.
Adjudged as one of the best sports festival ever, Asaba the Delta state capital provided some savoury moments, during the course of the games, writes Abimbola Fabunmi.
Delta State hosted to win
Apart from being the host, Delta state had the capacity and the wherewithal to host and also win. The preparation and the resources (Human and Material) put together before and during the competition put them in good stead to win.
They had already won the previous 6 editions in a row but none was as successful as the Asaba 2022 edition where they ammased a total of 648 medals comprising of 320 gold, 200 silver, and 128 Bronze medal.
Bayelsa finished a distant second with 132 gold, 115 silver, and 90 Bronze medal while Edo state finished in third place with 78 gold medal, 94 silver, and 167 bronze medal.
According to the commissioner of information in Delta state, Charles Aniagwu, Delta state is an indigene of sports while others are visitors, saying that explains why they always win whether as host or visiting team.
Aniagwu revealed that the amount of resources pumped into sports in the state will always put it miles ahead of others.
Meanwhile, Delta state has always produced top athletes who has gone ahead to give the country great representation in international competitions. The likes of Ese Brume, Blessing Okagbare, Divine Oduduru among many others.
Hospitality at its best
Delta state is among the very peaceful state in the country and this also helped in the successful hosting of the competition.
The near perfect transportation system in the city and the hotels situated in Asaba and environs also contributed to the success of the event.
There are no bikes plying the road and as such reduced the level of crime in the city. Blue and white buses and tricycles were seen plying their roads with comportment and coordination. Meanwhile, transportation was also readily available and affordable.
The people of Asaba are very accommodating and hospitable, they also have good food and embraced everyone who came for the event.
The death of an Imo boxer
Late Imo boxer, Chukwuemeka Igboanugo died representing his state at the event. The boxer died a patriotic hero.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, the boxer was tested days before his match by the medics and was diagnosed of high Blood pressure, he was told to come back days after for another round of check-up and he had stabilized and certified fit to fight.
But in the course of his fight, the medics noticed that he wasn’t coordinated and asked that the match be stopped but he insisted on representing his state with the assurance that he could carry on but unfortunately he slumped and died, while rushing him to the Federal Medical Centre Asaba.
Massive Media Coverage
The Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival enjoyed massive media coverage, and the practitioners on ground did a yeoman’s job.
Journalists came from all the nooks and crannies of the country and did justice to the assignment with their pen.
Africa Independent Television ran live coverage of the event in conjunction with 33 productions another media company that won the bid to cover the event.
Other media houses like, TheNewsGuru (TNG), Punch, DailyTrust, NAN, Vanguard, Channels, TVC and many others were ably represented at the event.
In all, about 400 journalists from across the country came to give the event a massive coverage.
Colourful opening & closing ceremony
Asaba, came alive on Wednesday December 1st when the curtain was raised for the 2022 National Sports Festival (NSF) with a colourful opening ceremony performances at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.
The performers thrilled the spectators with dance, music, calisthenics display, and fireworks in what could be described as one of the best spots festival opening ceremonies in recent times.
Meanwhile, Delta state ended the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival with a powerful and colourful colourful closing ceremony too at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Saturday, December 10th.
The 10-day event saw athletes from different states of the federation competing for honour in different events from athletics to boxing to weightlifting among other sports.
The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare thanked everyone and most especially the Governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa for putting up a good showing as the number one host.
Apart from the established stars who have dominated the festival for years, new stars emerged among which were Stella Ayanleke in the women 400m race and Tima Godbless, who won three medals also in athletics.
Indigenous rap artiste Erigga and singer Zlatan thrilled fans to fun-filled atmosphere at the stadium.
Ogun state was declared the host of the 22nd edition in 2024, However, Oyo state was put on standby incase Ogun state will not be able to host.