The 2022 National Sports Festival in Asaba, Delta State will involve athletes from across West Africa and Central Africa, sports minister Sunday Dare has stated.
The pan-Nigeria multi-sport event is usually participated in by athletes representing the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, but Dare is planning to add an ‘international flavour’ this year.
The 2022 National Sports Festival is scheduled for November 28 to December 10 in the Delta State capital.
The minister confirmed today that some international teams have been invited to take part in Nigeria’s biggest sports gathering.
Speaking on a Radio Nigeria network programme ‘Have Your Say’ in Abuja today, Dare said invitations have been extended to West African countries Ghana, Cote’d’Ivoire, Guinea, Benin Republic and Sierra Leone as well as Central Africa’s Cameroon to present teams that will be part of the games.
“The National Sports Festival Delta 2022 is our own Olympics. We want to make it an African show, so we are adding some international flavours to it with the participation of teams from at least four West African countries,” the minister said.
“We are hoping to have about sixteen to eighteen thousand athletes in Delta State.”
The last National Sports Festival was successfully held in Benin City, Edo State in April 2021 after delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
