Hosts Team Delta were officially declared winners of the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged Delta 2022, defending the title they won at the last edition after claiming 320 Gold medals, 200 Silver and 128 Bronze in Asaba, Delta State.
Team Bayelsa finished second with 132 Gold, 115 Silver and 90 Bronze medals, while Team Edo came third with 78 Gold, 94 Silver and 167 Bronze medals to complete the top three States.
The closing ceremony at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba was filled with fanfare, as school children and musicians entertained the spectators, displaying some of Nigeria’s traditional attires and culture.
About 14,000 athletes across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), competed for honours in 38 sporting events, across different venues in Asaba and other towns in Delta State.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, represented President Muhammadu Buhari at Saturday’s closing ceremony, where he presented the games’ trophy to the Chairman of Delta sports commission, Tonobok Okowa and to the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Burutu Otuaro.
“We thank Delta State for showing us what it means to be committed to Sports development. We are all winners,” Sports Minister Sunday Dare said at the closing ceremony.
“Sports has proven to be an enabler of economic development. The power of sports is unassailable.”
After successfully defending the title they won at the 20th edition of the games fiesta, Delta State continues to prove that it is the number one state for sports in Nigeria after emerging victorious at the 21st edition.
Victory on home soil made it the eighth (8th) time that Delta State is winning the National Sports festival in 10 appearances.
