Ogun to host 2024 National Sports festival, Oyo on standby

It will be difficult for anybody to break my NSF record, Okowa boasts Host of the 2006 edition of the National Sports Festival, Ogun State, has been awarded the hosting right for the next edition in 2024.

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the closing ceremony of Delta 2022, revealed on Saturday that Oyo State finished second among the contestants for hosting the 22nd National Sports Festival in 2024.

He noted that the decision to unveil the runners up was to avoid anything that could hamper the event, stressing that if the host state was not prepared before time, the hosting right would be passed to the runners up.

The closing ceremony at the Stephen Keshi Stadium on Saturday featured the presentation of winners’ trophy to Team Delta, Bayelsa and Edo State and the passing of the hosting right to Ogun State.

Fans at the stadium were thrilled by Delta-born rapper, Erigga, Zoro and Zlatan. The Guardian recalls that Team Delta won the 2006 edition of the National Sports festival when Ogun last hosted it.

Meanwhile, with a massive medal haul of 648, made up of 320 gold, 200 silver and 128 bronze, Chairman of Delta Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa, has every reason to celebrate.

Team Delta retained their National Sports Festival title on Saturday, creating the biggest record in the Games’ history. The win is Team Delta’s eighth in 10 appearances, having triumphed at Bauchi 2000, Abuja 2004, Gateway 2006, KADA 2009, Eko 2012, Abuja 2018 and Edo 2020.

Speaking with The Guardian shortly after the closing ceremony at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Okowa said: “First, I thank God for the smooth organisation of this National Sports festival.

“A few weeks ago, many Nigerians were