BOMA DIPRIYE
Delta, Nigeria – The Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, who doubles as the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria AFN, has disclosed that plans have been concluded for the hosting of the 7th National Youth Games in the state.
In his opening speech at the joint technical meeting of delegates from across the country, he assured the directors of sports of an hitch free Competition.
He said that the state was fully prepared to host the championship.
The sport administrator said preparations were on top gear for the games scheduled to take place in Asaba soon.
The event billed for September 7 through 17, will feature about 30 sports with the aim of discovering and nurturing talented athletes for future stardom.
The sports lined up for the under 15s tournament include; Athletics, Boxing, basketball, beach volleyball, canoeing, football, handball, hockey, table tennis, karate and wrestling.
Others include, para athletics, chess, squash, scrabble, swimming, judo, weightlifting, golf, rugby and tennis.
Propose venues to be used are the government house squash court, Ibori golf course, Westend Secondary School, Asaba, the Cynotaph, mainbowl, indoor halls, swimming pool and other facilities in the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
Other venues are the hockey pitch at Okpanam, Admiralty University, Ibusa and Lander brothers Anchorage, Asaba.
The national youth games has served as a platform for identifying young athletes since it’s inception.
The maiden edition took place in Abuja and Kwara State has hosted the last five editions.
However, for the 7th edition, the federal ministry of youths and sports decided to award the hosting rights to Delta State.
The last edition of the games featured a total of 37 sport events, with Delta emerging overall champion amassing a total of 104 medals comprising of 60 gold, 26 silver and 28 bronze.
Lagos State was second with 19 gold, 25 silver and 28 bronze medals, while Edo ganered 40 medals of 18 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze to placed third on the medals table.
According to our Correspondent, Delta State had won all the previous editions of the National Youth Games.
