THE Delta State Government on Wednesday, July 6 in Asaba unveiled the 21st National Sports Festival Logo and Mascot.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who is also the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while performing the function, said the state would host and win the competition to maintain its sports dominance in the country.
The mascot, called UZO, symbolises Delta‘s physical power, strength, ferocity and focus.
Okowa said hosting the festival, tagged, ‘Delta 2022,’ with theme, ‘Uniting Nigeria, inspiring the next generation,’ was in recognition of the role of the state as a leader and role model in sports in the country.
The governor noted that the choice of Delta as host of Nigeria’s version of the Olympic Games was in recognition of its pioneering role in sports growth and development, adding: “Delta, as you are well aware, has won every edition of the National Youth Games and National Sports Festival in the past five years to confirm its position as the number one sporting state.
“We intend to continue this leadership as Delta hosts the entire sportsmen and women across the length and breadth of our country. Let me also state that Delta was primed to host the 20th edition of the festival, but lost its bid to our sister state, Edo, at the very last minute in Abuja.
“As a sports-loving state, we were not discouraged in our quest to bring home to roost, this sporting extravaganza we have dominated for a long time. We are also positioned to be number one in the hosting of the games.
“However, as the nation looks forward to seeing Delta host our sportsmen and women to this feast, I can assure you that we are doing our best to host a most memorable competition in the annals of the festival.”
“We are guided by our excellent hosting of the 21st Senior Africa Athletics Competition in August 2018 in Asaba, which received a global ovation, because of our facilities and our hospitality to our guests on that occasion. We have resolved to do even more this time around.
“We are already updating our facilities and putting in place, new ones of international standards, because of the multi-dimensional nature of the festival.”
Okowa said the security of athletes and officials was a top priority and urged intending participants to feel free to savour the state’s hospitality.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, lauded Delta State for providing 61 per cent of athletes in the national teams, noting that beyond oil, the state has another gold in sports and talents development.
“I have been a minister of Youth and Sports for three years, but I have seen seven years of Okowa’s investments in sports development.
“The National Sports Festival is a celebration of Nigerian athletes, irrespective of tribe and religion, and today’s event, which entails branding of the festival, is the very essence and symbol of our unity in diversity.
“The festival is a tool for the promotion of unity of our country and we recall that when Delta won the hosting rights, we were pleased because we know we have a governor who is not afraid to break new grounds and lift the stakes higher.
“In this year’s competition, Delta will be hosting what we term the ‘Nigerian Olympics’ and 40 different events would be competed for in 14 days, with 16,700 athletes attending,” Dare said.
He called for private sectors collaboration and investments in sports infrastructure in order to unlock the multi-billion dollar business potentials in sports in the country.
Managing Director of Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Emefienem, said the bank was pleased to identify with the festival as sponsors and official banker, adding that the contribution of sports to unity and progress of the country couldn’t be over-emphasised.
Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, said the timeliness for the festival was designed to ensure a successful hosting of the games.
Abubakar, represented by the Secretary of MOC, Dr. Peter Nelson, commended the state government and the local organising committee for their efforts in ensuring a success for the games, to be held between November 4 and 13 this year.
Abubakar said the mascot and the logo, which represent the identity of the game, in line with international best practices, shall be used to brand all materials to be used for the games.
In his welcome address, Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) and Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, said the unveiling signals the beginning and launching of images for merchandising of the event.
The festival, first staged in 1973 at the National Stadium in Surulere, in Lagos, was originally conceived as a unifying tool, with the main purpose of promoting peace and cross-cultural affiliation in Nigeria after the civil war in 1970.
Delta State defended its title as champions of the Edo 2020 with 384 medals (158 gold, 116 silver, and 110 bronze medals), followed by host, Edo, with 341 medals (129 gold, 104 silver and 108 bronze medals), while Bayelsa garnered 169 medals (56 gold, 55 silver and 58 bronze medals) to place third.
