Delta State, winner of the 2020 National Sports Festival, will host the next edition of the festival in 2022.
Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, made the eagerly-anticipated announcement during the closing ceremony of the festival in Benin on Wednesday.
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Dare, who was represented by Nebeolisa Anako, Permanent Secretary of Sports Ministry, said the state emerged tops after the rigorous selection process.
He said;
Following the evaluation of the bids and the physical visitation to the prospective States, I hereby announce Delta State as the next host of the National Sports Festival in 2022.
Congratulations to Delta State for emerging the overall winner of the Games of the 2020 National sports Festival.
He expressed;
I’m glad to note that the Federal Government received bids to host the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival in 2022 from 6 states namely: Delta, Ebonyi, Imo, Kaduna, Kano and Ogun.
I congratulate the government and people of Delta State for emerging the preferred State and wish them best of luck in the organisation of the 21st National Sports Festival.
Having successfully hosted many sporting events in times past including African Senior Athletics Championships, many will expect Delta State to match the Edo 2020 organisation if not surpass it.
Meanwhile, Delta defended their title as champions of Edo 2020 with 384 medals, after a total of 158 gold, 116 silver, and 110 bronze medals.
Hosts, Edo settled for the second position with 341 medals, comprising 129 gold, 104 silver, and 108 bronze medals, while Bayelsa grabbed 169 medals made up of 56 gold, 55 silver, and 58 bronze medals.
