The Edo State Government has approved a two-week closed camping programme for selected athletes and coaches as preparations intensify for the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, scheduled to take place in Benin City from February 20 to 27.
The Secretary of the Edo State Liaison Committee for the Niger Delta Games, Bright Idahosa, announced the decision on Wednesday as the state kicked off trials to select athletes for the regional sports festival.
Idahosa explained that the closed camping exercise, which begins on Sunday, will strengthen training and fine-tune the athletes’ readiness ahead of the competition. He said the state will only pick the best performers within the approved under-20 age category to represent Edo State at the games.
He disclosed that Team Edo is conducting the trials across all 18 local government areas of the state, with the involvement of the 17 sports associations registered to participate in the games. According to him, the trials, which commenced on Wednesday, will produce the final list of athletes who will fly the Edo State flag at the festival.
Idahosa also revealed that the Executive Chairman of the Edo Sports Commission and Chairman of the State Liaison Committee, Amadin Enabulele, has directed all sports associations to conclude their trials by Friday.
“Edo State has entered the final phase of preparation for the Niger Delta Games and is fully ready to host other states in the region,” Idahosa said. “All participating sports associations must complete their trials within the stipulated timeframe.”
He further stated that members of the Edo State Liaison Committee, alongside technical officials, will closely monitor the selection process to guarantee transparency and credible athlete selection.
The Niger Delta Games, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited, will bring together athletes from the nine states in the Niger Delta region.
