Delta 2022: Athletics to hold December 3-8 as competition schedule is released

The athletics event of the 21st National Sports Festival tagged Delta 2022 will start on Saturday December 3 following the release of the competition schedule.

The track and field events will run from Saturday December 3 to Thursday December and will hold at the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba, Delta state.

Last year at the 20th edition of the Festival, Edo state’s Enoch Adegoke emerged the fastest man while Grace Nwokocha won the women’s 100m gold. Both victories were achieved with the narrowest of margins.

While Adegoke ran 10.28 to beat his friend and rival, Alaba Olukunle (10.29) to the blue ribband gold, while Nwokocha (11.42) was two hundreth of a second fastet than Lagos state’s Joy Udo-Gabriel.

Meanwhile, the Games Village has been scheduled to open on Sunday November 27 while competition proper will start on Tuesday November 29 with Boxing, Chess, Cricket, Cycling, Deaf Table Tennis, Swimming and Judo taking the centre stage on day one.

Cricket which is starting on the first day of competition is making its debut at the National Sports Festival with three others viz Netball, Teqball, and Mixed Martial Arts serving as demonstration sports.

Team Delta won the 20th edition of the National Sports Festival held in Edo State between April 2 to 14 with 158 gold, 116 silver, and 110 bronze medals.

Team Edo, the host, came second with 129 gold, 104 silver, and 108 bronze while Team Bayelsa finished a third with 56 gold, 55 silver, and 58 bronze medals.

The victory in Benin city was Team Delta’s 6th consecutive in National Sports Festival and the host state is looking to make it seven wins on the bounce.