According to the state commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Anita Iziegbe Evbuomwan who spoke to us at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, Edo State will feature in 24 events and be represented by 415 athletes as against the 31 events, the state competed in last time around.
"We have about 628 officials and athletes that will be participating in this festival as against the 830 in the last edition at Kaduna, but the number dropped because we are now engaged in 24 sporting events." However, Evbuomwan believes the reduction in the number of events and athletes representing the atate will not affect the overall result.
"We are 100 percent ready. We moved them to camp yesterday and we are expected to camp for 10 days. I am sure that at the end of the day we will come out successfully. The atate governor has done very well for us. He has released enough money for camping which should be enough to take care of the athletes and officials in this festival. We are expecting at least 50 gold medals," she added.
Edo State came second behind Delta State, who amassed 79 gold medals in the last edition hosted by Kaduna State.
Games torch lands in Benin
Meanwhile, the unity torch of the festival arrived Benin over the weekend from Akure, the Ondo State capital for onward journey to Port Harcourt en route Asaba, Delta State.
The commissioner for Youth and Sports Development received the torch at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium on behalf of the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, and called for the sustenance of the "all time high performance of our athletes in successive National Sports Festivals." Affirming that sport is a veritable tool for fostering unity in the country, she reiterated the "commitment of the state government in continuous investment in sports development in the state to further enhance the performance of our athletes in all the competitions," assuring that Edo State government will not relent in encouraging and sponsoring sporting competitions both locally and nationally.
Recalling the sterling performance of the state at the 2002 edition of the festival which was hosted and won by Edo State with 179 gold medals, she said that Edo State has remained a force to reckon with at the festival.
"In view of this development, I make bold to say that our athletes will occupy the top of the medals table again during the next edition of the festival in Port Harcourt starting on June 27," she concluded.
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