Team Delta, known for its winning streak at sporting events was a cynosure of all eyes on Sunday at the opening ceremony of the 22nd National Sports Festival.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State who was represented by his Deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, arrived at M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, Ogun State, venue of the sporting competitions hours before the commencement of the colourful opening ceremony witnessed by a crowd estimated to be more than 10, 000 people.
Delta is fielding more than 700 athletes that will compete in 36 sporting events at the festival which had participants from the 36 States of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
President Bola Tinubu who was represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shetima, declared the festival opened.
Tinubu at the festival, said, “indeed, nothing has brought the nation together like sports, whether on the pitch, in the court, or on the track.
“We are reminded daily that we are not strangers to one another, we are compatriots drawn from different roots but drinking from the same well of national pride.”
The Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori urged Team Delta to come back home with the trophy.
He said that Team Delta has won the National Sports Festival eight times, so, it is natural that the team wins again and urged the athletes to put in their best to emerge victorious.
Team Delta dressed in colourful sporting wears that the team is known for, during the parade, displayed the trophy won in the last edition and danced to the admiration of those who witnessed the ceremony.
Some of those who witnessed the opening ceremony include former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra, his Osun and Ekiti States counterpart, Abiodun Oyebamiji and Sen Ademola Adeleke respectively, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, former Governors of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel currently representing Ogun East at the Senate, former international, Dr Segun Odegbami among other top political functionaries and sports enthusiasts from across the country.
