February 16, (THEWILL) — The Festival Torch for the 2nd Niger Delta Games has been lit in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Receiving the Torch at the ceremony, which was held at the Samson Siasia Complex, Governor Douye Diri commended the organisers, the Niger Delta Development Commission and Dunamis Icon Limited for initiating the Games.
The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Sport Development, Dr Daniel Igali, said the fiesta, which is the first regional Sports Festival in the country, had placed the Niger Delta region as the leader in Sport Development.
“Let me thank the organisers, the Niger Delta Development Commission and Dunamis Icon Limited for initiating the Games.
“With this initiative, they have placed the Niger Delta States ahead of every other region in the country. So, we commend them for this, and we hope that they would even put up a bigger and better tournament this time”, he stated.
He expressed optimism that Team Bayelsa would excel at the Niger Delta Games in Benin City and top the overall medals table just as they did in the inaugural edition in Uyo last year, promising to provide the necessary support for the athletes to do the State proud.
The Chairman/CEO of the project consultants for the Niger Delta Games, Dunamis Icon Limited, Chief Itiako Ikpokpo, represented by the Secretary of the Liaison Committee for Bayelsa State, Mr Loveday Herbert, said the lighting of the Festival Torch was a critical aspect of the fiesta.
According to Loveday, the lighting of the Festival Torch represents the unity of all the States in the Niger Delta region. The goal of every sporting event is to unify participating States, athletes and officials. It is used to foster a spirit of friendship and compete in a fair competitive environment’, he explained.
While commending the Bayelsa State government for receiving the festival torch, he gave an assurance that the best of facilities and organisation had been put in place to ensure a successful Sports Festival.
The ceremony was attended by the Director of the Bayelsa State Sports Council, Mr Andrew Aye, and other top management officials of the Sports Council, the Technical Adviser on Sports, Mr Alaowei Opukeme, the Director, New Media of the Bayelsa State government and Chairman of the State Athletics Association, Dr Kola Oredipe, coaches, athletes, among others.
The 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Games will formally open on Friday, February 20, while the Closing ceremony takes place on Thursday, February 26.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
