Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has rewarded star athletes that made the state proud at the National Sports Festival which held in April at Edo State.
Bayelsa state finished third place on the final medals table behind Delta and Edo, who won first and second positions respectively.
Governor Diri announced a total package of N195 million for the gold, silver and bronze medallists as well as the coaches and secretaries of the team.
Governor Diri urged the athletes to reciprocate the gesture they had received by working hard to improve their performance in the next festival as he assured them that the government would not relent in promoting sports at all levels.
“Your next sports festival in 2022 began the day Edo 2020 ended. I’m sure that if you go to Asaba 2022 with the same passion, patriotism and commitment you exhibited in Edo, you would surpass your performance.
“That is why I charge you not to relent in order to go beyond your current position.”
The governor also adopted two Bayelsa-born athletes Blessing Oborududu and 17-year-old sprinter, Tima Godbless in line with the “Adopt an Athlete Initiative” of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Daniel Igali, stated that with 568 athletes at the festival, Bayelsa won 56 gold, 57 silver and 58 bronze medals while commending the governor for his exemplary motivation and commitment toward youth and sports development.
“We went to the National Sports Festival in Edo and came back with 56 gold, 57 silver and 58 bronze medals, placing third overall.
“The story about the sports festival was about Bayelsa. Not only did we punch a bit above our weight, we also had the athlete with the highest gold medals. She won eight gold medals.
“We assure you that when the time comes, beginning today with your full backing, we would go to Asaba 2022 and make you proud again.”
A minute silence was observed in honour of an athlete, Samson Ndukwe, who won gold at the festival but passed on before the reception for Team Bayelsa.”
He assured the state that the athletes were determined to bring it more glory and appealed for the provision of more sporting infrastructure for them such as buses to convey them to training.
A cash reward of N1 million was given to individual gold medallists while team gold medallists received N500,000 each, with outstanding swimmer, Ifiezibe Gagbe, receiving over N10 million reward haven won eight gold, two silver and five bronze medals.
Gold medal-winning coaches and secretaries were also rewarded with N500,000 each while individual silver medalists were rewarded with the sum of N350,000.
Team silver medallists received N250,000 each and silver medal-winning coaches and secretaries took home N300,000 each.
Individual bronze medallists received N300,000 each, while team bronze medallists N100,000 and bronze medal-winning coaches and secretaries received N200,000 each.
Individual athletes, coaches and secretaries who did not win any medal were not left out, as they received N50,000 each.
