For the seventh time in a row, Team Delta has emerged the winners of the 21st National Sports Festival which was held in Delta State.
The exceptional Team Delta won historic 320 gold, 200 silver and 128 bronze medals to edge 35 other states and the Federal Capital Territory to stay atop the Nigerian apex sports fiesta.
Team Bayelsa, came second with 132 gold, 115 silver and 90 bronze medals, while Team Edo, which hosted the festival’s 20th edition, won 78 gold, 94 silver and 167 bronze medals to make it a South-South affair in the top-three ranking.
Team Oyo emerged fourth with 50 gold, 51 silver and 62 bronze medals, while Lagos secured 41 gold, 57 silver and 74 bronze medals to come fifth.
Rivers completed the circle of all-Southern states’ domination with 35 gold, 57 silver and 117 bronze medals to occupy the sixth position.
Meanwhile, Kano broke the Southern dominance with 19 gold, 27 silver and 30 bronze medals to emerge seventh on the medals table.
Ogun, FCT and Akwa Ibom emerged eighth, ninth and 10th respectively. At the bottom of the table is Zamfara, with no medal to their name.
Official reports have it that no fewer than 14,000 athletes participated in 38 sports at the festival.
President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Team Delta for winning the 21st National Sports Festival.
The President, who was represented by the minister of youth and sports development, Sunday Dare at the grand finale, said “As sportsmen and women, we have been trained to accept defeat at a Sports event as a challenge to do better next time, therefore we are all winners. With that, I congratulate all the Athletes, Coaches, Technical and other Officials for making the Festival a memorable one.”
“I salute the government and people of Delta State for the successful organization of the best National Sports Festival. I commend His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and his team for the high standard of facilities provided for the Festival. I urge you to be creative in putting the facilities to good use that can generate revenue for the coffers of the state government”.
“Sports has over the years proven to be an enabler for economic activities in the host state and community, it has also fast-tracked the provision of infrastructure and led to the development of new cities and therefore urged all states of the Federation and the FCT to continue to partner the federal government in its sports development efforts so that together as a nation, we can attain our sports development vision,”..
Buhari disclosed that Ogun State will be the next host for the National Sports Festival in 2024.
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