For Teams Delta, Bayelsa and Edo, it was all jubilation on Saturday night, as the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged “Delta 2022” ended in grand style.
Out of the 36 states of that participated in various games, Team Delta was declared winner of the championship event, having hauled a total of 648 medals comprising of 320 gold, 200 silver and 128 bronze medals.
With this, the state has won 8th times in 10 appearances since 1973, when the first edition of the NSF held.
Team Delta topped the medals table at Edo 2020 by winning 158 gold, 116 silver and 110 bronze while Team Edo, the host then, came second with 129 gold, 104 silver and 108 bronze.
Bayelsa took second position at the Delta 2022 with a total of 337 medals made up of 132 gold, 115 silver and 90 bronze medals.
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Team Edo, host and winner of the 2002 edition, ranked third in the current edition having hauled 339 medals consisting of 78 gold, 94 silver and 167 bronze medals.
At the closing ceremony held at the Stephen Keshi International Stadium, Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports development, on behalf of President Buhari, commended the various teams from across the federation, that participated in the festival.
Hd said we are all winners in the competition, adding that “we are united in sports.
He commisserated with family of Chukwuemeka Igboanugo, a boxer from Team Imo who lost his life in this cause of the competition.
BusinessDay learnt that no fewer than 14,000 athletes participated in 38 sports even as Ogun State expressed readiness to host the 2024 edition of the festival.
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