Niger Delta Games Considering Adding More Sports In Subsequent Edition- Ikpokpo














Niger Delta Games Considering Adding More Sports In Subsequent Edition- Ikpokpo

Iduozee Efe Paul 


The Managing consultant of Dunamis Icon Limited, the lead consultant and organizers of annual Niger Delta Games Sir.  Malik Itiako Ikpokpo has revealed that they are considering increasing the number of sports in the tournament to 21 during the next edition, stressing that the organisers are not interested in who wins but talents discovery and development.

Sir Ikpokpo disclosed this while addressing the Press on Tuesday at the Media Centre of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. 
He noted that the decision to increase the number, depends on their popularity in the region.

The second Niger Delta Games are presently going on in Benin City, the Edo State capital with  16 sports featuring.

“Our plan is to give opportunity to athletes of all sports to be part of the Games. You will notice that this year, we removed canoeing because the equipments are not in any of the participating states but in Lagos and Abuja. We then brought in Taekwondo. So, we will definitely consider increasing the number of sports but we will also consider how popular that sports is in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking further, Ikpokpo stated that one of the lasting legacies he wants to put in place is to make sure that athletes are comfortable which necessitated the use of Benson Idahosa University as the Games village.

“The idea of the Niger Delta Games is not to win at all cost but to discover hidden talents in the region. We also want to leave a lasting legacy that things can be done right and athletes welfare not to be toiled with.

“It was in view of this that we are using Benson Idahosa University as our Games village. The beauty of this decision is that all the athletes and coaches are camped in one place which brings about good bonding “, he noted

Ikpokpo also highlighted the importance of going back to school sports and charged the various state governments in the oilrich Niger Delta region to provide adequate funding for coaches to enable them engage in serious grassroots talent hunt.  He added that more should be done in the area of facilities and motivation of sports administrators.

He expressed happiness with the seamless organisation of the Games and advised participating states to monitor the development of athletes discovered in their states to enable them rise to the pinnacle of their career.

” You will all agree with me that the Games is going on smoothly without any hitch. The screening committee did a good job and the rules are being applied without and bias and that’s the only way to grow our sports.

The chief organizer of the Niger Delta Games also shed light on why the age limit was reduced from U-25  to U-20, explaining that it has given room for a number of young athletes to be discovered just as he reminded Nigerians that some of the athletes that took part in the maiden edition of the Games in Uyo participated at last year’s National Sports Festival where they won medals.

” The decision to reduce the participating age is already yielding result. One of the girls that won gold medal this year is 13 years old. She participated last year and came last but participating with her peers this year, she now won gold which is a good development for the Games.

He extolled  sports Journalists for their support, urging them not to relent in their reportage of the tournament as he described the media professionals, as partners in progress.

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