2022 National Sports Festival (Delta 2022) Opens in Asaba: Searching for Young Talents Should be our Focus – Sunday Dare
The 2022 National Sports Festival, tagged “Delta 2022”, #Delta2022, #NSFdelta2022, #NSF, commenced on Wednesday November 30th at the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba, Delta State with a colourful opening ceremony performances. One of the best opening ceremonies for a festival in recent memory, the artists enthralled the audience with dancing, music, calisthenics, and pyrotechnics.
The Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, and the governors of four states, Ifeanyi Okowa, executive governor of Delta State; Douye Diri, executive governor of Bayelsa State; Godwin Obaseki, executive governor of Edo State; and Aminu Tambuwal, executive governor of Sokoto State are among the dignitaries present. Ismaila Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, and Olumide Osoba, the head of the House Committee on Sports, were also present.
A total of about 10,000 athletes from all the 36 states plus the FCT will participate in the festival. The athletes will be competing in over 30 different sports including Basketball, Handball, Football, Boxing, Judo, Wrestling, Athletics (Track and Field), Cricket, Teqball , Table Tennis, Swimming, Taekwondo, Badminton, Volley ball, Weight Lifting, Hockey , Gymnastics, Squash rackets, Cycling, Chess, Lawn Tennis, Rowing, Shooting, Baseball and Martial Arts,
During the event’s opening ceremony, the Honorable youth and sports development Minister, Sunday Dare minister, spoke with reporters, stating that he is incredibly excited at the level of readiness of several States for this 21st National Sports Festival.
“My sight and focus is on the 10 days as I am looking for talents to deploy into the national teams for the next Olympics, France 2024. “My immediate concern is searching for young talents to represent Nigeria at international competitions. “I thank the Delta State Government for the adequate preparations made for the Festival because they did not have the entire 24 months to be ready rather they had 16 months. “A lot of credit should go to the Government, which for me, is one of the highlights of the Games and also, all the participating States of the Federation.” “We have five states that have registered their intention to host the next NSF, so, it will be interesting to see how the bidding process goes. “Come December 10, when we will announce the winner, we will also announce the next host of the Festival, the best state will win,” Dare concluded.
