Delta State is set to host what could be the best edition yet of the National Youth Games (NYG), boasting the facilities and capacity to deliver a world-class sporting event.

This assurance was given by the Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Mr. Onoriode Oborevwori, during the Joint Technical Meeting of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) and Directors of Sports from various states ahead of the 9th National Youth Games to be hosted in Delta.

Represented by the Acting Director General of the Commission, Emuobo Igalase, Oborevwori said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration is committed to delivering an outstanding event. He stressed that Delta has always been ready to host both national and international competitions.

However, he disclosed that the state would not be able to provide facilities for Deaf Sports, Beach Volleyball, Powerlifting, Baseball, and Softball due to late inclusion of these events in the schedule. The government, he said, would not want to provide substandard facilities.

He explained that the beach volleyball facility at St. Patrick’s College, Asaba, had been destroyed due to ongoing storm drainage work, while other facilities could not be built with just two weeks to go before the games. He urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to remove these events from the programme.

In response, MOC Chairman and NSC Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, represented by Director of Grassroots Sports Development Chief Amaka Ashiofu, thanked Delta for providing quality facilities but noted that some still needed renovations before the games begin. He insisted the state should provide facilities for all scheduled events, stressing that with Nigeria converging on Asaba in 16 days, there should be no excuses.

Directors of Sports from various states, including Zamfara’s Mr. Nasiru Aliyu Bakura, commended Delta’s 95% readiness but urged the state to meet all hosting obligations to avoid jeopardizing young athletes’ careers.

Earlier, officials undertook an inspection of the facilities, noting significant improvements since the last edition in 2024. Team Delta, winners of all eight editions since the games began in 2013, will aim to extend their dominance as the state hosts the third of four editions awarded to it by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development (now NSC) in 2022.