Rush For Medals Begins As Osibanjo Declares 2022 NSF Open Today
All is now set for the commencement of the 2022 National Sports Festival (NSF) in Asaba, the capital of Delta State.
The Vice President, Professor Yomi Osibanjo, will declare the 21st edition of the games open today at the ultra-modern Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba.
According to the programme released by the Local Organising Committee (LOC), before the opening ceremony, Asaba 2022 would have produced its first medal in cycling.
Other events will follow suit after today’s opening ceremony which will have the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare and other dignitaries in attendance.
An official of the LOC revealed yesterday that today’s opening ceremony is going to witness a mixture of entertainment and cultural displays.
He said one of the artists listed to thrill the audience is an upcoming musical artist, Harry Song.
And as of yesterday evening, athletes and officials from all the States, including the FCT had arrived in Asaba ahead of the opening ceremony.
At the flag hoisting ceremony yesterday at Stephen Keshi Stadium, the chairman of the LOC, Chief Patrick Ukah, tasked the athletes to avoid the use of performance enhancing drugs.
Athletes who are rearing to go have expressed satisfaction with the quality of facilities provided by the Okowa led government for the sports festival.
Without any doubt, one major area that caught the attention of the athletes and their officials was the new tartan track installed at the Stephen Keshi Stadium.
The sports festival which ends on December 10 will see a total of 11, 000 athletes competing for medals in 30 sporting events.
