“In 2018 when Delta State hosted the Senior African Athletics Championship, a new tartan track was installed at the Stephen Keshi stadium but the athletes complained that it was not smooth enough. Now, Governor Okowa don’t want any form of complain”
By Uzor Odigbo
To give Delta 2022 National Sports Festival the best it deserves, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has imported the same type of tartan track used at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in England to be installed immediately at the Stephen Keshi stadium in Asaba.
The 21st National Sports Festival tagged Delta 2022 will go ahead as scheduled from November 28 to December 10.
A joint technical meeting involving the Main Organising Committee (MOC), the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and other stakeholders of the event was held in Asaba on Friday, where the participants, including Sports Minister, Sunday Dare took a tour of the facilities.
A member of the LOC said that the new tartan to be installed at the Stephen Keshi stadium has arrived in the country.
“In 2018 when Delta State hosted the Senior African Athletics Championship, a new tartan track was installed at the Stephen Keshi stadium but the athletes complained that it was not smooth enough. Now, Governor Okowa don’t want any form of complain. He has imported the same type and quality of tartan track used for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in England. I am sure our athletes will set more national records when Delta 2022 National Sports Festival, begins” the LOC official said.
Apart from the re-laying of the tartan at that Stephen Keshi Stadium, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is putting in place two brand new indoor sports halls for the Games, just as the old indoor hall is being renovated.
A brand new swimming pool is also being build within the stadium complex, while hostel facilities are being built in some schools for the 21th National Sports Festival.
During Delta 2018 Africa Athletics Championships results obtained by Athletes at the stadium could not could as the tartan was said to be badly laid by CAA technical officials.