Niger Delta states lead as National Sports Festival ends

The Nation

9 July 2011

Niger Delta states lead as National Sports Festival ends

•Lagos to host next edition in Nov next year

Three Niger Delta States yesterday topped the medal list at the end of the 17th National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged “Garden City Games,” which ended at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The three states are Rivers, Delta and Edo.

The best three participating states at the NSF shared N45 million, promised by President Goodluck Jonathan, while declaring the NSF open last Sunday, along with the newly-presented trophies, donated by Plateau, Lagos and Anambra states, which encouraged the athletes to put in their best.

The contingents of Rivers state, the overall winning state, went home with N20 million, while the first runner up, Delta state, was richer with N15 million and the second runner up, Edo, returned to base with N10 million.

Rivers State emerged overall winner with 135 gold medals, 29 silver and 85 bronze, followed by Delta state with 82 gold, 88 silver and 81 bronze, with Edo having 46 gold, 41 silver and 43 bronze medals.