The Executive Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission, Amaju Patrick, rated Nigeria’s performance in Football and Athletics high, saying that some measures taken by the National Sport Commission yielded good results.
He said some of the measure was proper preparation and motivation of Athletes and footballers and the establishment of a symbiotic relationship between the National Sports Commission and the State’s Sports Commissions.
The Chairman reiterated that when athletes are discovered a platform is provided for them to ensure that they do well, adding that at the State level some athletes are given scholarships as motivation and a means of monitoring them. Delta State has been outstanding in athletics due to proper motivation.
He disclosed that the State gives them full scholarship and Civil Service jobs, revealing that when the State Government created the Sports Commission in 2007, sporting activities were given a professional and institutional platform to leverage its activities.
Mr. Pinnick said that after six months of what he termed grueling debates in the DTHA by legislators, the Bill for the creation of the Commission was passed into Law, leading the Commission to discover the comparative advantage of every section of the State.
He noted that cyclists were discovered from the Agbor axis and swimmers from the Torugbene axis of Burutu Local Government Area, (for example Miss Forcados, who in earlier competitions at the national levels won over eight gold medals in swimming), discovering that if athletes needed, Sapele and Warri axis should be considered.
Pouring more encomiums on Governor Uduaghan, the Executive Chairman said that the Governor had done so well hence he has always been at the pinnacle of national sports competitions in the country, stressing that for Deltans it is no longer news that they come home with the highest number of medals after every sports competition.
The Executive Chairman discloses that Delta State won 114 gold; 99 silver and 75 bronze medals being first on the list, while Rivers State came second with 76 gold, 71 silver and 70 bronze medals and third was Lagos, the host with 64 gold, 47 silver and 71 bronze medals, Edo came fourth with 25 gold, 23 silver and 44 bronze medals in athletics.
He noted that Nigeria also recorded a remarkable feat when Blessing Okagbare (a Deltan) won a medal in Long Jump in Moscow at the Athletic World Championship to prove to Nigerians that what other countries had achieved could also be achieved by Nigeria, indicating that only if there is a political will and commitment by the relevant authorities.
Mr Pinnik thanked the sports-loving State Governor, Dr. Uduaghan, for the sustained successes Delta State had attained over the years.
Delta State Government Press Release
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