By Hananeel Jackson
Bayelsa State Governor Senator Douye Diri on Sunday declared open the maiden edition of the State Sports Festival tagged “Access Bank Prosperity Unity Games” amidst pomp and ceremony.
Declaring the showpiece open Governor Diri, urged athletes to follow the symbol of unity that the State Sports Festival represents by abiding by the rules that governs the fiesta, stating that the festival is another landmark achievement of his administration in the area of sports development.
The Governor explained that the National Sports Festival was one of the measures introduced in the aftermath of the civil war to renew the fabric of the nation’s social cohesion and to promote the common destiny as a people, stressing that the architects of the Festival recognized the unifying power of sports in Bayelsa.
While appreciating the sponsors Access Bank, the governor asserted that the only way to Prosperity was to have a sound health, and that the best medicine for prosperity is through sports development.
The State helmsman appreciated his deputy senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Daniel Igali and Director of Sports, Sir Braveman Wodi for working assiduously in hosting the showpiece.
He affirmed that the cardinal objective of his administration is the pursuit of youth development through initiatives that empower and create jobs as launch pad for national developmental goals.
In an address of welcome, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Hon. Daniel Igali appreciated the Bayelsa State Government and the sponsors Access Bank for the foresight in hosting the inaugural Prosperity games.
He said he was elated to witness the maiden edition of the Bayelsa State Sports Festival tagged Access Bank Prosperity Unity Games, saying that State achievement in the sports sector in the last three years was indicative of the doggedness of the Prosperity administration towards sports development.
The commissioner explained that the games will feature 240 team officials, 140 technical officials and 194 officiating officials across the fourteen sports battling for 293 gold, 293 silver and 387 bronze medals, pointing out that the events would provide a veritable platform to discover untapped talents in the State.
In a goodwill message, Chief Executive officer of Access Bank Dr, Herbert Wigwe represented by the Relationship Manager Access Bank Mr Kakiri Miebi-Flint, said the bank was pleased to collaborate with the Bayelsa State Government to actualize the prosperity mantra.
He maintained that Bayelsa State has had tremendous achievements in the sports sector in the last three years, noting that the bank is working towards building a prosperous Bayelsa State through sports.
In the opening football match decided at the Samson Siasia Stadium Yenagoa , Ogbia Local Government Area forced Brass LGA to two all draw as action continues tomorrow in different sports.
The event which was colorful also featured Fantastic Dance Groups, musical performance by Bayelsa famous artist Jah Wonder, and March past by athletes from the various local government areas of the state.
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