TheCable

Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta, has pledged one million naira for every gold medal and N500,000 for each silver medal won by the state’s contingents to the 20th National Sports Festival in Edo. 

The governor announced the pledge at a pre-departure prayer session for the athletes at Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, on Friday.

He reassured that the reward scheme will be a repeat of what the athletes enjoyed for every medal garnered at the 19th National Sports Festival in Abuja in 2018.

He said each bronze medal will also be rewarded with N250,000.

“In the last sports festival the athletes made us very proud as a state, because we were very emphatic in our victory and we didn’t just have victory we actually dominated the games,” Okowa said.

“We are not afraid of the numbers that will win, because as many athletes that win shall receive their cash rewards.”

The festival is expected to begin on April 2 — although the number of athletes has been reduced from 14,000 to 8,000 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor also urged Team Delta to go and replicate the impressive victory that the state earned at the last edition.

“In the last sports festival the athletes made us very proud as a state, because we were very emphatic in our victory and we didn’t just have victory we actually dominated the games,” he added.

“It appeared that we didn’t have any competitors and I know, as you go to Benin, you must be vigilant and committed with the passion to re-enact our victory in Abuja.

“Go forth to Edo State to win and to dominate the National Sports Festival.”

On his part, Tonobok Okowa, chairman of Delta state sports commission, rued the absence of most of Team Delta’s foreign athletes due to COVID-19 and Olympics preparation.

He, however, expressed his confidence in Team Delta’s preparation and their ability to dominate the festival once again.

“This time, due to the several postponements, most of our foreign athletes could not make it because they have qualified to go to the Olympics,” the chairman said.

“In spite of that, Delta will still parade good athletes that will challenge for medals because you have always encouraged us and you have given us all that we need to go and perform well.

“As defending champions in Abuja 2019, we won with a total of 352 medals, comprising 163 gold, 88 silver and 101 bronze.”

The festival had suffered several postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.