The MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State will come alive with some very colourful display, fireworks, drama, beautiful parade steps, demonstrations and salutes, music and positively charged atmosphere as the opening ceremony of the much anticipated 22nd National Sports Festival takes place.
As we earnestly await athletes from all the 36 States of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to display their god-given talents and some skills they’ve worked on into perfection for years in battle for medals and supremacy, Sammy Sports International Ltd, owners of SSI Media and SSI Leagues, whets your appetite, refresh your memory and take you down memory lane with the following:
The Nigerian National Sports Festival, a biennial multi-sports event organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Sports Commission for athletes from the 36 States of the Federation started in 1973 at the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos as a unifying tool, promoting Peace and cross-cultural affiliation in Nigeria after the Nigerian civil war in 1970. The National Sports Festival also serves as a development and training event to aid athletes prepare for continental and international events.
The National Sports Festival which is also to build a robust talent pool of athletes, enhance and elevate sports at grassroots level, establish a standard programme for athletes’ succession and to enhance cultural and educational development, has the Mid-Western, comprising of Delta and Edo States now, as the first winners when the National Sports Festival started in Lagos in 1973.
Before we give you all the winners of each National Sports Festival since its inception in 1973, the question on everybody’s lips is: *Will Delta State, the defending Champions, having won the last edition in Asaba, Delta State, repeat the same feat of 2006 when they topped the medals table in Abeokuta ,Ogun State?
Here are the past winners of the Nigeria “Olympic Games” since inception in 1973:
The Mid-Western region, comprising of now Delta and Edo States won the inaugural edition in Lagos in 1973.
Mid-Western repeated the same feat in same Lagos in 1975.
Bendel State won it in 1977 in Kaduna. The first time the Unity sports was brought to the northern part of Nigeria.
Bendel State won it again in 1979, hosted by Ibadan, Oyo State at the Liberty Stadium, tagged: Oluyole 79.
Bendel came calling again in 1981, this time as the host. Beating other states to the topmost podium.
Bendel couldn’t just stop winning as they went to Ilorin and did what they know how to do best carting home the highest numbers of gold medals, to emerge Champions in 1985.
Bendel State weren’t done yet as they went to Rivers State and emerged as winners in Rivers ’88.
Lagos State put a stop to Bendel’s dominance by hosting and winning it in 1989 at the National stadium, in Surulere in Lagos.
Zone 2, comprising of Bendel, Ondo and Rivers States emerged in Bauchi in 1991.
Lagos State bounced back again in 1996 to emerge Champions in Benue ’96.
It was Lagos State again in Imo 1998, beating other States to the top.
Delta State collected the champions baton, beating other States to the podium in the year 2000 hosted by Bauchi.
Edo State emerged winners as host in 2002.
Delta State returned to the topmost podium, winning it in Abuja in 2004.
Delta State repeat same feat in Abeokuta, Ogun State, winning the game at Gateway 2006. Will they repeat same this year at the same venue? Only the 30th of May can tell!
Delta State’s not done yet as they emerged Champions in Kaduna in 2009, tagged Kada ’09.
Rivers State made 2011 theirs as the hosted and won the Games at Rivers ’11.
Delta State returned to familiar terrain in Lagos 2012 to emerge Champions.
Delta State was again on hand to win in 2018 at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Delta State maintained their supremacy at the Games to rule again in 2021 hosted by Edo State.
It was Delta State all the way again in 2022 as host, tagged: Delta ’22.
This is Gateway ’24 and Ogun State as host. Who will come tops? Will it be a deja Vu as it happened in 2006 for Delta State who are the defending Champions, or the hosts, Ogun State and other successful States like Edo, Rivers and Lagos coming up to put a stop to their smooth runs?
Over 10,000 athletes from all 36 States, the Federal Capital Territory, and the invited junior team(IJA) team will compete in 33 Sports, with events taking place across different venues, including the Alake Sports center, MKO Abiola Stadium, Remo Stars Stadium, and other key facilities on ground. The Games Village is at Babcock University.
This year’s edition is breaking a new ground with the introduction of a symbolic “38 State”. Which is the invited Junior Athletes(IJA), a team made up of exceptional young talents competing independently to showcase Nigeria’s future Champions.
