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Peter Akinbo.
Ahead of the opening ceremony of the Delta 2022 National Sports Festival on Wednesday, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has christened the 21st NSF the African Olympics, The PUNCH reports.
The minister said this while making his address during the flag-hoisting ceremony on Tuesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
“We have christened this 21st National Sports Festival the African Olympics; the sheer number of 14-15,000 is massive, no other country in Africa can command that. No other country in Africa has that number of athletes gathered at a single venue for ten days and I think this is significant, this is a national event,” Dare said.
“We are going to have different Presidents of Federations join us here, and maybe they will learn some lessons,” he said.
Representing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro also gave his address appreciating all the dignitaries from the 36 states and Abuja present at the flag-raising ceremony.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, permit me to stand on protocols earlier established while I personally thank and appreciate our dear Commissioner of Sports, Mr Sunday Dare and members of his entourage. I am honoured to stand in the stead of the Governor. Thank you once again for joining us in Asaba, Delta State for the National Sports Festival taking place today,” Otuaro said.
He also anticipated a very successful Sports Festival that can breed unity among all participants.
“We are very much prepared, everything is in top shape, we are praying and expecting a very rewarding and fruitful National Sports Festival, and we hope that at the end of this Sports Festival, we would have in no small measure stood to build a stronger nation where tribe and tongue matters no more, where religion and whatever political divide matters no more and we become as expected in our constitution and indivisible people under God almighty with a common focus to progress our national unity and understanding,” the Delta State Deputy Governor said.
Before the hoisting of the 39 flags which includes the flags of the 36 states, the flag of the F.C.T, the Nigerian flag and the flag of the Sports Festival, Minister Dare praised the host state.
“Delta is ready, our contingents from 36 states and the F.C.T are here and we hope that the next ten days will be beautiful days for sports, the talents will emerge in friendship and unity.
“Let me say, Delta State has done excellently well, it is visible to the eyes, it is capable,in spite of challenges, in spite of disappointments, against the naysayers, we saw Delta state pool together both material and human resources. I saw Delta State through the sports commission leverage on our sporting experts across the country to come to join hands with them and make this possible so I thank the Delta State Government for this opportunity,” Dare said.
“We are going to hoist these flags now, and we know the symbolism of hoisting the flags at sporting events. At the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, we see these flags hoisted in respect to the country’s participators.”