Delta State have emerged Champions of the Youth Games for the third consecutive time topping the medals table.
Delta got a total of sixty medals, made up of twenty-one gold, sixteen silver and twenty-three bronze after the completion, which lasted for ten days, ended today at the University of Ilorin, Kwara state.
Delta beat Team Akwa Ibom to the first position. Akwa Ibom came second, with forty-six medals made up of sixteen gold, fifteen silver and fifteen bronze, Ondo State, was third with thirty-six medals comprising twelve gold, twelve silver and twelve bronze.
Host Kwara placed fourth with ten gold, ten silver and nine bronze medals, while Ogun State finished fifth on the table with a total of twenty-seven medals made up of seven gold, six silver and fourteen bronze.
Bayelsa state came sixth, with a total of twenty-two medals made up of seven gold, five silver and ten bronze while Benue came seventh with seven gold, four silver and five bronze medals, summing up to sixteen.
Speaking with The ACLSports.com shortly after the closing ceremony, the Delta State Commissioner for Sports, Tonobok Okowa attributed the success at the games to the state sports festival held few months ago.
He added that over 80 athletes were discovered in the games.
“We had our own Delta State sports festival and in the festival, we discovered 88 athletes. Some of them are here, the younger ones, we always encourage them and every time there is tournament, we sent them as a litmus for whatever we are doing. We have good coaches and limit the over age syndrome.
Also speaking, the director of sports Akwa Ibom state, Lawrence Iquaibom said the state government supported the athletes during the preparations and it contributed a lot to the successes recorded.
He said the talent discovered will be handed over to the various Federations in order to develop them for international standards and make sure they are fit for the Africa Youth Games and Olympic Youth Games.
The only state that failed to register for the Youth Games is Zamfara, while Lagos State is the only registered state that failed to partake at the 2017 National Youth Games in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Sources close to ACLSports.com revealed that the Director General Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Ogunsanya was unceremoniously removed on Wednesday due to Lagos’s failure to attend the games for the third consecutive time.
