By Usman Aliyu
Edo has moved 282 athletes into a full residential camp ahead of the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, signaling strong intent to dominate the regional sporting event.
The Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin while officially declaring the Team Edo camp open ahead of the games, which the state will host.
Enabulele said Edo would compete in 16 sporting events and was the only one of the nine Niger Delta states to have placed its athletes in full camp.
“Edo State will be participating in 16 events with 282 athletes already in camp. As of today, Edo is the only state that has gone into full camping,” he said.
The sports commission chairman described the early camping and improved welfare of athletes as evidence of the state government’s seriousness about sports development, attributing the support to Gov. Monday Okpebholo.
“This clearly shows that the state government is genuinely interested in the games and in the development of our athletes,” Enabulele said.
The chairman urged the athletes to remain disciplined and focused, reminding them that they were ambassadors of Edo.
He also commended the organisers – the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Dunamis-Icon Limited – for their level of preparedness.
“We are satisfied with what the organisers have done and what we are seeing on ground,” he said, noting that facilities across Benin were nearing completion.
Enabulele said inspections of key venues, including the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Wire Road courts and the Team Edo camp site, showed readiness levels of over 98 per cent.
“Our athletes are now in camp and will undergo double training sessions to prepare very well for the Games,” he added.
Reaffirming Edo’s reputation as a hub for grassroots sports development, Enabulele said the state remained a major source of elite athletes in the Niger Delta.
“When it comes to grassroots sports development, no state in the country can compete with Edo State,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Niger Delta Games, sponsored by the NDDC, are expected to feature athletes from the nine states of the region.
The games, according to the sponsor, aim to promote unity, youth engagement and sports excellence.
(NAN)