Post NSF: Gov Diri Splashes Cash Reward On Bayelsa Athletes

Post NSF: Gov Diri Splashes Cash Reward On Bayelsa Athletes

Precious Oham

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has rewarded Bayelsa athletes who made the state proud in the 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Team Bayelsa finished third according to the official medals table declared by the National Sports Commission, maintaining its podium finish.

Receiving the contingent inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Diri noted that sport has become a window of opportunities and empowerment for the youths in the state.

Governor Diri, who was at the closing ceremony of the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, said he was shocked by the twist in the medals table due to the gap between the host state, Ogun and Bayelsa, hours to the closing ceremony, stating that before he left Abeokuta, he had already noticed some unconventional practices that were ongoing.

"On behalf of your government of prosperity and the people of Bayelsa, I congratulate all our athletes and all our officials for making us proud at the Gateway Games at Abeokuta, Ogun State. I do not believe that you took third, I believe that you finished second at the Games", the governor stressed.

Senator Diri announced a cash reward of One Million Naira (₦1,000,000.000) to each gold medalists, team gold medal athletes would smile to the bank with Seven Hundred Thousand naira (₦700,000), silver medalists Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦500,000) while team silver medalists will get Three Hundred And Fifty Thousand each (₦350,000).

He explained that bronze medalists would smile home with Three Hundred Thousand Naira (₦300,000) each while team bronze medalists would receive Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦200,000).

Officials of gold medal athletes will equally receive One Million Naira each (₦1,000,000.000), gold medal technical officials will also smile home with Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (₦700,000) each. 

Governor Diri further explained that silver medal team officials would go home with Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦500,000), silver medal technical officials will receive Four Hundred Thousand Naira (₦400,000) each, bronze medal team officials will get Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦200,000) each, officials of the Ministry of Sports Development and the Sports Council will receive ₦1.5 million naira.

He equally promised to reward Local Organizing Committee members with (₦1,000,000), festival secretariat officials (₦700,000) each, essential staff, three hundred thousand naira (₦300,000), and support staff will go home with (₦200,000) each, urging the Commissioner for Finance to immediately release the monies to the athletes.