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Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has charged the team to the 5th National Youth Games (NYG) holding in Ilorin, Kwara state, to go all out and retain the trophy, which it won at the last edition.
The defending champions of the games departed their camp at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, on Saturday, with a 750-member contingent, including 400 athletes.
The team will participate in 34 sports, including swimming, wrestling, combat track and field events, at the games which begins on Tuesday September 10, to end on September 17.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifejika, the Governor challenged the team to surpass its last year’s performance by increasing the medals tally.
He said the team was well prepared and motivated to make the state proud again as the number one in sports in the country.
Okowa said since the completion of the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, government had continued to take steps towards improving sports facilities and enhancing sports development in the state.
The Governor said sports remained one of the cardinal programmes in the quest to make the state stronger in all spheres, adding that Delta had continued to dominate in every facet of sports in the country, because of its sustained investments in the industry and youth development.
He stated that his administration would not relent in harnessing the potentials of abundant talents in the state for the good of the nation.
Delta is seeking to retain the trophy which it had won for four consecutive times since 2012, when the games commenced.
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