.. says sports festival will cement cords of unity in the State
Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has declared opened the maiden edition of the State Sports Festival tagged “Prosperity Unity Games 2023” at the main bowl of the Samson Siasia stadium, Yenagoa.
Declaring the festival open, Gov.Diri said the Bayelsa State Sports Festival will foster unity among the people and positively channel the energy of the youth for productive ventures.
Governor Diri stated that the festival would produce emerging talents in different sports, urging the athletes to compete fairly and in line with the guidelines.
He commended Access Bank Plc for sponsoring the competition, adding that the only way to Prosperity was to have a sound health, and that the best medicine for prosperity is through sports development.
“We are one homogeneous Bayelsa State. However, we believe that this Sports Festival will again cement the cords of unity that has been existing among the various Local Government Areas in the State and for us as the only homogeneous Ijaw State.
“We all know, sports is not only a competitive event, but it is medicinal. Sports will stop you of frequently visiting the hospital.
” As we tagged our government as a government of prosperity, the only first way is to be prosperous is in your health, and no nobody can be prosperous if your health fail you.”
He 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 competition.
In his speech, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Hon. Daniel Igali appreciated the Governor Diri led Administration for the smooth take off of the maiden State Sports Festival,
pointing out that the events would provide a veritable platform to discover untapped talents in the State.
The commissioner noted that the Access Bank unity prosperity games would feature fourteen sports which includes, athletics, boxing, canoeing, Judo, Football, Chess, Karate, table tennis, draught, swimming taekwondo, scrabble,para swimming, wrestling and weightlifting.
He 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.
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 partner with the Bayelsa State Government to develop sporting talents in the State.
At the ceremony were match past by contingents from the 8 local government areas, cultural display and other side attractions.
dignitaries Present at the ceremony were the chairman of Bayelsa State council of Traditional Rulers, King Bubraye Dakolo(Agadava IV) Ibenanaowei Of Ekpetiama clan,Hon.Isenah Emmanuel, former Speaker of Bayelsa State house of Assembly, Hon.Tare Porri, Member representing Ekeremor Constituency I, House committee chairman on Sports, heads of Local Government councils and other top government functionaries
Highlight of the ceremony was the lighting of the Unity Torch by Bayelsan who has made the state proud globally in sports. The symbolic Torch had earlier been taking round the 8 Local Government Areas of the State.
In the opening football match , Ogbia Local Government Area forced Brass LGA to two all draw.
The competition run from Monday 26 March 2023 to Friday 31 March 2023 being the Closing Ceremony in different center across the state capital.
