BY AUSTIN AJAYI, BENIN – Amazing spectacle of culture and tradition blended well with modernity to showcase the rich and creative heritage of the Bini Kingdom as official opening ceremony of the 20th National Sports Festival tagged ‘EDO 2020’ took the centre stage at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
Wearing a new look befitting of the Edo state government’s promise to make this year’s National Sports Festival an unforgettable event, the renovated Ogbemudia stadium was in its best element hosting athletes, officials, sports aficionados and spectators to a grand ceremony
However, missing in action was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who had to leave Benin for Abuja after meeting with Oba of Benin for undisclosed reasons. Before now, expectations had ran high that the Vice President would be at the stadium to declare open the Festival on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, currently on medical holiday in London, the United Kingdom.
In the President’s absence, Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, dutifully stepped in to declare the EDO 2020 Festival opened after urging all the athletes and officials to be disciplined, always playing by rules.
In their colourful outfits, athletes and officials from participating states were on parade during the traditional march-past ceremony while a top Nigerian musician, Timi Dakolo entertained the crowd with intermittent standing ovation.
Dakolo kick started the event with the National Anthem followed by series of stage performances on the huge platform mounted in the middle of the pitch facing the VIP box where Governor Godwin Obaseki; Deputy Governor Phillip Shuaibu; and Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, as well as other dignitaries including Commissioners for Sports of different states sat savouring the impressive display by different cultural and musical troops.
Without doubt, the raised platform and different performances were tailored to showcase the rich traditional and cultural heritage of Benin Kingdom and Nigeria.
The crowd was amazingly thrilled during the parade and March past by the various contingents. Then fireworks eventually took over the sky, making it vibrant with different music rendered as the states marched past to announce their presence at the Sports Festival.
Fulfilled that the day was well spent, the crowd of athletes and officials slowly emptied from the stadium with buses on hand, conveying them to designated locations.
