Sports
moc Upholds Rivers Protest, Cancels Bayelsa Medals
The Main Organising Committee, MOC, of the ongoing Edo 2020 National Sports Festival, NSF, has disqualified swimmer, Dino Ebarakumo and cancelled a total of six medals, four gold and two silver he won in the pool for Bayelsa state. This follows a protest letter filed by Team Rivers over Ebarakumo’s last minute ditching of Rivers state to represent Bayelsa at the festival.
According to Team Rivers, the swimmer was contracted, camped, prepared and registered by them for the festival only for him to be seen competing for Bayelsa State in Benin.
Speaking earlier on the development, Head of Team Rivers and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Sir Honour Sirawoo, had declared that the state would protest and pursue the matter to a logical conclusion because no athlete should be allowed to con the state. He was at a loss how the organisers of the games even allowed him to compete for Bayelsa with Rivers state’s tag and registration.
“It’s not possible for his medals to stand, we registered him and his name appeared on our DMR document, so, there is no way he can get away with what he has done”, Sir Sirawoo had said.
With the disqualification of the swimmer and his medals, Bayelsa’s medal haul has taken a hit and may haunt them at the end of the day.
Meanwhile, Team Rivers was faced with some testing moments after some athletes they were hoping on for medals, especially, in tennis, were found to be ineligible to participate. In a circumstance that could be likened to a conspiracy against the team, it was learnt that the names of the athletes, who were hitherto registered for the games were found to be missing from the official registration documents, few hours to the commencement of their event.
Reacting to the situation, Sir Sirawoo had said that the matter would be looked into and steps taken to right the wrong if any, but that they would not allow it to distract them from their objective at the games.
By: Gabriel Nwanetanya
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.