Director of Sports Bayelsa State Sports Council Sir Braveman Wodi has heaped praises on team Bayelsa brilliant outing in the just concluded National Para Games in Abuja.
Bayelsa topped the overall medal table with 73 medals made up of 30 gold, 24 silver and 20 bronze medals having won the maiden edition with 93 medals comprising 31 gold, 30 silver and 32 bronze to win the Nigerian version of the Paralympics games.
Sir Wodi at a media parley with newsmen in Yenagoa, hailed the team for its commitment and determination, which culminated in its unprecedented dominance of the games at the nation’s capital.
The Director noted that Bayelsa success story was as result of the hard work and determination of the athletes as well as the various structures put in place by the council from the coaches to management level.
He asserted that one of the fundamental reasons behind the State emerging champion in the Para Games was because of the government financial backing on the team, describing the governor’s unparalleled love for sports as laudable.
The former Bayelsa United chairman pointed out that the State’s continuous emergence as champion in different competitions could be attributed to the strategic planning and huge investments in sports development.
According to him, Bayelsa State surpassed the previous record set in Abuja in the maiden edition with 40 gold as against 31 gold medals but three gold did not because they did not meet the threshold of the number of States that participated in the spectacle.
He explained that some gold did not count in Canoeing due to nomenclature “V” and “K” but argument on the “V” meaning VAA” because disabled athletes are ought to be called “VAA” but medal could not issued as a result of Alphabet “K” which signifies able athletes.
Sir Wodi opined that since governor Douye Diri and his Deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo assumed office as the state helmsman Bayelsa sports has been on the rise, pointing out that the target of the State was to maintain the standard.
The seasoned sports administrator ascribed the successes recorded by the team to the huge investment of the prosperity administration in sports development, describing the support by the government as stunning and unprecedented“.
He hinted that the governor has approved the construction of a new stadium at Elebele that would commence next year following the Bayelsa State sincilliating outing in different sports in the country, stressing that once the stadium is completed, Bayelsa would host the 2028 National Sports Festival.
The Odi-born sports administrator lauded the Governor Senator Douye Diri and his Deputy Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, commissioner for Youth and Sports Development Chief Daniel Igali and his management for the unflinching support rendered to sports.
