The Governor of Delta State, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has flagged off the 2024 Olympic Day Celebration at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba with charge to the athletes to maintain the momentum as the leading state in sports in Nigeria.

Performing the flagging off on Saturday l, he urged Delta state sportsmen, especially athletes representing the country in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, to be focused and aim for personal and national glory.

The Governor made the call on Saturday, represented by his Chief of Staff, Prince Johnson Erijo, who led the run, Governor Oborevwori also presented the message of the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, to the global Olympic community, in which he re-emphasised the ideals of sports to humanity, the values of the Olympism and the expected special deliveries of the 2024 edition of the Olympic Games.

“The Olympic Games always build bridges and bring people together in peace and solidarity. This is the beauty of sports: it inspires us to move, it brings out the best in us, it keeps us healthy, and it brings us all together – as friends and a community, wherever we are and whichever way we choose to move.

“This year’s Olympic Day is a very special one, taking place just ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. With the excitement of building the athletes, the fans, the entire Olympic Community around the world – all of us – we are looking forward to a new era of Olympic Games: younger, more inclusive, more urban, more sustainable.

The very first Olympic Games with full gender parity. The very first Olympic Games fully in line with our Olympic Agenda.

“In Paris, the athletes will inspire us with their achievements – they will inspire the world by living our Olympic motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.”

Earlier in his welcome address, Director- General of the Delta State Sports Commission, Festus Ohwojero, thanked Governor Oborevwori for his support for the commission, which, he revealed, had enabled its athletes and officials to break new grounds.

“We in the Sports Commission, with the unflinching support of the Delta State Government, are breaking new grounds in talent discovery and nurturing them to stardom in consonance with the cardinal objectives of the M.O.R.E Agenda of this administration” he said.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates to all the participants by Prince Johnson Erijo on behalf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.