Delta splashes support for swimming

In a clear display of "using what we have to get what we need," the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has expressed the readiness of the Delta State Government to give swimming in the State but with particular reference to the country, more splashes that would assist swimmers go the extra miles to earn more honour for the country at intertional competitions.

This much was disclosed by Uduaghan, who is also an Executive Board member of the Nigeria Swimming Board during their meeting in Warri last weekend. To show as testimonies of the State's preparedness to boost swimming both in the State and the entire Federation, members of the Board were taken round Warri and Oghara where the construction of Olympic-sized swimming pools have reached advanced stages. According to Uduaghan, who hosted the Board meeting on behalf of the Delta Government, "the construction of this three 50 meters swimming pools is our own way of contributing to the development of swimming and other sports in the country. We are not concentrating on swimming alone; all other sports are equallty being treated in like mannmer. "The youths need these infrastructures to train so that, they can be gainfully engaged; thus checking idleness, which is the conduit pipe to restiveness. Besides, there is need to invest in swimming, which has many medal prospects at international competitions and spectatorship. It is as it were, the second most important sport in the Olympic Games." The SSG stated further that, since Delta State has many rivers, creeks, and aquatic terrains, there was the need to haness the abundant talents to further consolidate the State's leadership in the sport. "Our swimmers have over the years, been training at the stretch carved out from River Ethiope in Obiaruku, but with these standard swimming pools in place, we believe that our swimmers would now fare better," Uduaghan hoped.