Ahead of the 22nd National Sports Festival, slated for Ogun State between May 16 and May 30, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has received the Torch of Unity from the National Sports Commission (NSC).
Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, highlighted the importance of peace and unity, stating that sports promote unity, discipline, love and friendship among citizens of a nation.
According to him, the Gateway Games will provide another opportunity to promote unity amongst athletes, pointing out that sport is the only vehicle that has continued to put the country on the path of unity, irrespective of religion and tribe.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of sports in Bayelsa State, adding that the state’s performance in the just-concluded Niger Delta Sports Festival in Uyo was a testament to the abundance of talents in the state.
He urged athletes to adequately prepare themselves for the festival, stressing that there is a huge task ahead to surpass the record they set in 2022 in Asaba, Delta State, where Bayelsa finished 2nd in the NSF for the first time, maintaining that Bayelsa had gone beyond the level of participation to winning laurels.
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He said his administration was committed to completing the 25,000-capacity stadium for the state athletes to compete favourably with their peers outside Bayelsa, stressing that sports remained one of his government’s cardinal programmes.
Diri said: “Bayelsa has taken sports as a major tool to take our youths away from crime and drugs, because every youth that is into sports can hardly be a criminal. We are also using it to control drugs because drugs and sports are diametrically opposed to each other.
“We are taking sports seriously to ensure that our youths get out of drugs and earn a living through sports. As we speak, two Bayelsans are currently in the U-20 national football team in Egypt for the U-20 Africa Championship.”
Earlier, Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, praised the government’s contributions to the development of sports in the state, describing the event as symbolic.
Also speaking, leader of the National Sports Commission delegation, Mrs. Ikana Mbora, said the festival would be an exhilarating experience and expressed the commitment of the commission to ensure its success.
In separate goodwill messages, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Barrister Tare Porri and Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, expressed readiness for the fiesta, adding that camping had already commenced for the athletes.