Bayelsa State team at the weekend in Abuja won the first edition of National Para Sports Games with 93 medals.
Bayelsa won 31 gold, 30 silver and 32 bronze to clinch the premier position with 93 medals in the maiden National Para Sports Games, which ended at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ismail Abubakar, who represented the Minister at the closing ceremony, commended all participating states for their cooperation in the seven days event.
“I want to thank the Almighty God for the huge success recorded in the games and also wish to express my profound gratitude to all the state governments that participated in the first edition.
“I want to thank all the team officials and athletes, sponsors for their participation,” he said.
More interesting events
The chairman of Local Organising Committee (LOC), Peter Nelson, said the next edition would be more interesting than the first edition.
“Para athletes had been making the nation proud in international tournaments for the Federal Government to show them what they intended for them in the maiden show.
“The second edition of the National Para Games is expected to take place next year, and there after, every two years.
“This was put in place to lessen the burden on States in having to fund athletes for both the National Para Games and National Sports Festival in the same year,” he said
At the end of the event the final medals table reads:
States Medals Position Gold Silver Bronze Total
Bayelsa 1st 31 30 32 93
Oyo. 2nd 24 15 21 60
Kano 3rd 21 13 8 42
Edo 4th 17 5 1 23
Ondo 5th 15 11 3 29
21 states participated in the maiden edition of the Para Sports Games which started on April 9 and ended on Friday.
NAN/Emmanuel Ukoh