Edo 2020: Gov Diri splashes N195m on Bayelsa athletes

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has rewarded Bayelsa athletes that made the state proud at the National Sports Festival held in April 2021 in Edo State with a total package of N195 million.

Bayelsa state came third at the sport festival for the first time behind Delta and Edo, a feat that surpassed its fourth place recorded since 2006 at the games held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

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Governor Diri who was elated at the feat of the state’s athletes, announced a total package of N195 million for the gold, sliver and bronze medallists as well as coaches and secretaries of the teams.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Daniel Alabrah in a statement on Thursday, explained that the governor, who received the state’s contingent inside the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House, Yenagoa, said the gesture was in appreciation of the honour they brought to the state.

For every individual gold medallist, Governor Diri announced a cash reward of N1m while team gold medallists got N500,000 each with outstanding swimmer, Ifiezibe Gagbe, getting over N10m reward having won eight gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

Gold medal winning coaches and secretaries were also rewarded with N500,000 each while individual silver medalists smiled home with N350,000, team silver medallists N250,000 each and silver medal winning coaches and secretaries N300,000 each.

Reward for individual bronze medallists was N300,000, team bronze medallists N100,000 while bronze medal winning coaches and secretaries got N200,000 each.

The largesse also included non- medal winning athletes who were appreciated with N50,000 each likewise their coaches and secretaries who got the same amount.

Governor Diri, therefore, urged the athletes to reciprocate the gesture by improving on their performance in the next festival and assured that the government would not relent in promoting sports at all levels.