For the fifth consecutive time, Team Delta on Thursday emerged as the overall winner of the 22nd National Sports Festival held in Ogun State.
The oil-rich state secured 122 gold, 96 silver and 105 bronze medals for a total of 323 medals to retain the title they won in 2022.
The sporting event, called “Gateway Games 2024,” was officially opened by President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, on May 18.
Tinubu, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio officially declared the festival closed at the closing ceremony on Thursday night in Abeokuta.
He also presented trophy to Team Delta as the overall winner of the sports fiesta.
Daily Trust reports that Bayelsa finished second with 92 gold, 62 silver and 70 bronze medals, amounting to 224 overall.
The host state Ogun, finished in third place after winning 90 gold, 64 silver and 78 bronze medals, totalling 232.
Rivers maintained fourth place with 74 gold, 56 silver and 63 bronze medals, giving them a total of 193 while Edo State finished in fifth position, having won 63 gold, 96 silver and 115 bronze medals, totalling 274 overall.
At the end of the event, 2,052 medals were shared among Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This victory marks Team Delta’s ninth overall triumph in the history of the biannual festival.
Team Delta won their first National Sports Festival title at the 2000 edition of the Games in Bauchi Bauchi, regaining the title in Abuja four year later in 2004 after losing it to hosts Edo in 2002.
The Team Delta retained the title in Ogun in 2006 and Kaduna in 2009.
Delta lost the title to host Rivers State in 2011 but reclaimed it in Lagos in 2012, and subsequently in Abuja in 2018, Edo in 2020, Delta in 2022, and now at the delayed 2024 Gateway Games in Abeokuta.
Enugu State will host the 23rd edition of the National Sports Festival.