"Delta Will Host A Befitting National Sports Festival In 2022" - Tonobok Okowa

  "Delta Will Host A Befitting National Sports Festival In 2022" - Tonobok Okowa By Niyi Busari With 139 gold, 98 silver and 92 bronze medals already in their kitty at the on-going 20th National Sports Festival in Edo State, athletes, coaches and officials of Delta Sports Commission are sure of retaining their top position at the end of the fiesta on Wednesday. Perhaps, what seems to be of concern to them at the moment is the state’s bid to host the 2022 edition of the sports festival. Two other states, including Kaduna and Oyo are also in the race for the hosting right. Delta State Sports Commission boss, Tony Okowa, has submitted his state’s bid to the Sports ministry, hoping that Delta will be considered going by the determination of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to stage a befitting National Sports Festival in 2022. Since the return to democracy in 1999, Delta has won the National Sports Festival six times in eight appearances. Delta won at Bauchi 2000, Abuja 2004 and Gateway 2006 under Chief James Ibori’s tenure, as well as Kada 2009 and Eko 2012 under Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s regime. The Abuja 2018 was the first sports festival under Governor Okowa, though his regime has produced three consecutive victories at the National Youth Games in Ilorin, Kwara State. And it stands, another win awaits Delta as the 20th National Sports Festival ends on Wednesday. Speaking with BSN Sports at the mainbowl of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium on Tuesday, Chairman Delta State Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa confirmed that they have submitted the bid and the state is waiting to be announced as the host of the next National Sports Festival. "We know we have submitted the bid and we are waiting for the outcome for government to give us green light to host the next National Sports Festival." Some athletes who spoke with BSN Sports yesterday believed that the 2022 edition of the fiesta will be better staged in Asaba, a city where people love to watch sporting activities. “Since Okowa’s government completed the Stephen Keshi’s Stadium, the people of Asaba have shown to the rest of the world that they are the best in sports spectatorship. They did it during the Africa Athletics championship and the Federations Cup. We have won virtually all editions of the sports festival, and it will be nice for Delta to host the 2022 edition for our people to see Nigerian athletes in action,” one of the athletes said. To some of the athletes, it will be unwise to give the hosting right to any other state because Delta has the facilities to host a befitting sports festival.