By Oluchi Tobex Tobe-Chukwu
The president of the Rowing & Canoeing Federation of Nigeria, Admiral Festus Porbeni (Rtd), has stated that there is a major difference between the Niger Delta Sports Festival and the National Sports Festival.
“The difference is the lack of state marginalisation by the various host states who do everything possible to host and win. The majority of the host states are always bent to host and win, thereby marginalising most sports that they are weak in.”
Why is the absence of marginalisation beneficial to all comers?
Porbeni re-emphasised that with the Niger Delta Sports Festival, all the nine states are free to participate in all events and are all at par.
“For example, Ogun State, the next host state for the next National Sports Festival in Abeokuta didn’t admit rowing and canoeing probably because they don’t have athletes in canoeing thereby shutting the door against future stars that would have been identified that period,” Porbeni said.
Porbeni also urged everyone in sports to take canoeing seriously because it is an Olympic sports that parades 36 medals.
The canoeing event was declared open on Friday by the president, who handed over a paddle to Darius Faith of Team Abia at the Ibom Hotels and Resort.
