1,144 athletes battle for glory in Bayelsa State Sports Festival

Posted : 13 April 2023

Over 1,000 athletes will jostle for glory in the maiden edition of the Bayelsa State Sports Festival tagged “Access Bank Prosperity Games'' from March 25 to April 1.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali at a press conference held in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital said that the state was ready to showcase it's numerous talents.

Dr Igali said hosting the fiesta became necessary due to the recent exploits of the state in sports and the global attention Bayelsa has received in the last three years.

He said that positive publicity sports Bayelsa State had gained was as a result of the governor's foresight in sports development.

“We have a total 1,144 participants comprising 592 females, 552 males that will participate in the one week event.

“They are scattered in 14 different sports at various local government areas of the state and the athletes will arrive on the March 25.

“The opening ceremony will be coming up the next day while the showpiece will officially kick off from March 27 to March 30 as the fiesta round up on April 1,'' he said.

Igali, an Olympian noted that the Access Bank prosperity games would feature 14 sports which includes, athletics, boxing, canoeing, Judo, Football, Chess, Karate and Table tennis.

Others are Draught, Swimming Taekwondo, Scrabble, Para swimming, wrestling and weightlifting,'' he said.

Igali commended Access Bank for sponsoring the event, adding that the financial institution had shown what was expected of corporate organizations in Bayelsa State.

“The gesture by Access Bank is laudable.

“I also thank the Governor and his deputy senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo for the premium attention they have rendered to sports development in Bayelsa State,'' he said.

Also, Co-chairman of the Access Bank prosperity games and Director of Sports, Braveman Wodi, asserted that the move to host the state Sports Festival became imperative due to the charge from the governor to the ministry to collaborate with the private sector for sports development.

Wodi, noted that the festival would be basically focused on local athletes who have yet to participate in the National Sports Festival.

“The target of the showpiece is to catch young Bayelsans who will represent the State and the country at the global stage.

“We are desirous of hosting a befitting fiesta and as well to discover hidden talents across the State,'' he said.

Relationship Manager Access Bank, Kakiri Miebi- Flint, said that the event would improve the lives of the youths in the state.

“The games will also bring out raw talents from the various local government and communities, because our services are beyond mere banking.

“We are pleased to collaborate with the Bayelsa State government as part of our corporate social responsibility to the people of the state which we hope will continue in years to come,'' he said.

1,144 athletes battle for glory in Bayelsa State Sports Festival

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics