…As Bayelsa Celebrates Olympic Day Run
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sports development in the state.
Governor Diri gave the assurance as the state joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 2025 Olympic Day in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The governor, who was represented by the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Mr. Alaowei Opukeme, said his administration would continue to invest in sports development, stating that the Prosperity Administration is leaving nothing to chance in ensuring that the state competes favorably among the comity of states in the country.
He described sports as one of the surest ways to empower the youths of the state, adding that Bayelsa’s exploits in recent years are a testament to the significant investments his administration has made in sports.
According to the state helmsman, the Olympic Day Run is significant to Bayelsa State’s cultural diversity and sporting excellence, embodying shared values of friendship and respect that resonate deeply with Bayelsans.
He noted that the theme of this year’s Olympic Day Run celebration—“Move, Learn, Discover, Together for a Better World”—was apt, as it calls on the people not to remain spectators, but to be active participants in the growth of society through sports.
President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engr. Habu Gumel, represented by Mrs. Emem Edem, said sports fortify both the body and mind, promoting robust health and well-being for every individual.
Engr. Gumel noted that the Olympic Day Run has consistently cultivated connection and solidarity, uniting friends and communities regardless of religion or tribe, and described the day as remarkable to the world.
Earlier, the Director of Sports, Bayelsa State Sports Council, Sir Braveman Wodi, in his welcome address, remarked that the Day was aimed at encouraging exercise, promoting health and fitness for all—through jogging and walking to burn calories, tone muscles, shape the body, and relieve stress.
He pointed out that the Olympic Day event was not a competition to win prizes, but a reminder that physical activity holds immense potential in helping people maintain good health, making sports a way of life.
Sir Wodi expressed his delight at the massive turnout for this year’s Olympic Day celebration in the state, noting that it further underscored the core values and significance of the Day.
He also used the opportunity to appreciate all the athletes, coaches, and organizing secretaries in the state for their seriousness, dedication, and commitment during the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He emphasized that their determination complemented the governor’s unparalleled passion for sports development.
The 2025 Olympic Day Run celebration climaxed with demonstrations from various sports and a fitness walk from Ekeki Park to the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
