By Hananeel Jackson

Yenagoa Local Government Area have emerged champions of the inaugural Bayelsa State Sports Festival tagged “Access Bank Prosperity Unity Games” after six days of intense contest among the eight LGA’S in Bayelsa.

Yenagoa LGA topped the medals table with 74 medals comprising 34 gold, 22 silver, 18 bronze, Kolokuma/Opokuma finished second amassing 92 medals, 30 gold, 29 silver, 33 bronze, Nembe LGA came third with 81 medals, 25 gold, 25 silver, 31 bronze.

Southern Ijaw came fourth despite winning gold in the women’s football event with 78 medals,, 22 gold, 29 silver, 27 bronze, while Ekeremor garnered 66 medals, 21 gold, 21 gold, 24 to finish 5th, Brass LGA 63 medals, 17 gold, 15 silver, 31 bronze despite having won the canoeing event.

Sagbama LGA got 48 medals to come out 7th with 9 gold, silver, 24 bronze, Ogbia LGA finished bottom of the log with less impressive performances in all the sports, 44 medals  7 gold, 9 silver, 28 bronze in the six day fiesta.

Declaring the spectacle tagged Access Bank Prosperity Unity Games closed, Bayelsa State governor Senator Douye Diri, represented by the commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Dr Daniel Igali, congratulated all the eight LGA and athletes who took part in the inaugural Sports Festival, stressing that sports have unified the youths of Bayelsa in the last six days of the event.

While appreciating the governor and his deputy senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo for the huge investment in sports development in the state, Governor Diri promised an improved competition next year with an increase in the number of sports.

He thanked the sponsors Access Bank for sponsoring the inaugural Bayelsa State Sports Festival, stating that athletes who did well in the competition would be groomed to represent the State in the future.

Also, the Manager Access Bank, Dr Herbert Wigwe, represented by the Relationship Manager Access Bank Mr Kakiri Miebi-Flint, asserted that he was impressed with the success recorded in the maiden edition of the Sports festival, saying that it has given the athletes a veritable platform to showcase their talents.

Co-chairman of the Prosperity Unity Games and Director of Sports Sir Braveman Wodi, noted that the aim of the competition has  been achieved with new talents  being discovered in different sports describing the fiesta as unique.

Sir Wodi, opined that hosting the state sports festival in Bayelsa State has shown what it intends to achieve in the National Sports Festival in Ogun State, urging other corporate organizations to get involved in the development of sports.

He commended the Bayelsa government, Access Bank and the athletes for the show of dexterity throughout the competition.

Cash reward of one point five million naira was given to the winner of the festival; one million naira went to the second place, while the third place received the sum of five hundred thousand naira.