By Peter Omopo
Preparations for the forthcoming Niger Delta Games have gathered momentum as Rivers and Ondo states intensified athlete selection trials ahead of the regional sports festival scheduled to hold later this month.
In Rivers State, trials to select athletes who will represent the state are set to conclude on Saturday, February 7, with football activities rounding off the week-long exercise. The trials commenced on Monday, February 2, featuring competitions in chess, table tennis, tennis and scrabble. Handball and wrestling events followed on Tuesday, while volleyball and taekwondo trials were held on Wednesday.
Swimming and powerlifting were conducted on Thursday, with basketball, boxing and weightlifting trials taking place on Friday. The selection process is aimed at picking athletes to compete in all 16 sports approved for the Niger Delta Games.
Members of the Rivers State Liaison Committee expressed satisfaction with the quality of performances recorded during the trials, noting that the athletes showed strong potential ahead of the competition.
The Rivers State Director of Sports, Mrs Ibia Inyengiyikabo, confirmed that the state’s athletes are well-prepared for the Games. Speaking after the athletics trials in Port Harcourt, she expressed optimism about the team’s chances.
“We have seen athletes who can do even better in the future, and with consistent training, we are optimistic about winning medals,” she said.
Meanwhile, in Ondo State, over 120 swimmers participated in a screening programme held on Thursday in Ese-Odo Local Government Area as part of preparations for the second edition of the Niger Delta Games. The exercise was designed to select outstanding swimmers who will represent the state at the competition.
Chairman of the Ondo State Liaison Committee and Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Segun Omoyofunmi, described the selection process as transparent and credible. Addressing journalists after the trials, he expressed confidence in the state’s prospects at the Games.
“I am very confident that Ondo State will perform creditably at the games. With the transparent screening and selection process, the best athletes have been chosen to fly the flag of the state,” Omoyofunmi said. He added that strict screening was necessary to ensure success at the competition and pledged that the state would aim for medal success.
The Niger Delta Games finals are scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 27. The event is expected to feature more than 3,000 athletes and about 500 officials from the nine states under the Niger Delta Development Commission. The Games are organised by Dunamis-Icon as a platform to promote sports development and regional integration in the Niger Delta.
