GOVERNOR SYLVA PROMISES AWARDS TO DESERVING ATHLETES OF BAYELSA STATE.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the third edition of the Governor Sylva national wrestling classics held at the Samson Siasia sports stadium, Governor Timipre Sylva promised that athletes who won medals at the seventeenth National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt would be given cash awards for their efforts before the Christmas. He said this would be his Christmas gift to the athletes for their efforts at the Garden City Games.

The Governor further assured that the houses promised veteran wrestlers in the state would be ready for occupation next year, pointing out that budgetary provision for this has been made. He also disclosed that all the winners of the various weight categories of the wrestling classic who qualified automatically for the African Championships coming up in Njamena, Chad next year would be sponsored by government for overseas training. Chief Sylva also donated an eighteen seated bus to the Nigerian Wrestling Federation as part of government support to the body.

Earlier, Governor Timipre Sylva had performed the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the construction of an ultra-modern gymnasium at the Samson Siasia sports Stadium. Highlight of the closing ceremony of the wrestling classic was the presentation of a medal to Governor Sylva by the National Wrestling Federation as recognition of the achievement of Bayelsa state wrestlers who has dominated the Nigerian and African wrestling landscape.