By Usman Aliyu
The Edo State Government has approved a two-week closed camping programme for selected athletes and coaches ahead of the second edition of the Niger Delta Games scheduled to hold in Benin City from Feb. 20 to 27.
Secretary of the Edo State Liaison Committee for the Niger Delta Games, Bright Idahosa, disclosed this as the state commenced trials to select athletes for the regional sports festival.
Idahosa said the closed camping, which begins on Sunday, was aimed at intensifying training and fine-tuning preparations for the games.
According to him, only the best athletes within the approved under-20 age bracket will be selected to represent Edo State.
He explained that the ongoing trials, organised by Team Edo, were being conducted across the 18 local government areas of the state and involved all 17 sports associations participating in the games.
Idahosa added that the trials, which are billed to hold from Wednesday to Friday, were expected to produce athletes who would compete for the state at the festival.
He said the Executive Chairman of the Edo Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele, who is also Chairman of the State Liaison Committee, had directed that all trials must be concluded by Friday.
“Edo is set for the final stage of preparation for the Niger Delta Games and to host other states in the region.
“All participating sports associations must complete the trials as directed,” he said.
Idahosa further said that members of the Edo Liaison Committee and technical officials had been mandated to closely monitor and supervise the exercise to ensure credible selection of athletes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trials, expected to end on Friday, will see the Athletics Association conclude its exercise at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium track and field.
Other sports featured in the trials include tennis, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, boxing, weightlifting and gymnastics, among others.
The Niger Delta Games are sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited, with all nine states in the Niger Delta region expected to participate.
(NAN)
