Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has assured his state athletes that their Christmas celebration would be grand if they emerge winners at the ongoing National Sports Festival.

Uduaghan is the only governor, aside the host governor Raji Fashola, who has visited athletes in camp and watched many events at the weekend. He will continue his tour of the events this morning.

Delta are still topping the table with 24 gold medals as at 6 pm yesterday. Defending champions Rivers are second with 20 medals.

"Do your best to win the festival and your Christmas will be rosy. Your reward will not take a long time. This Christmas will be good for you, "Uduaghan told Delta Athletes.

He watched boxing, weightlifting, tennis, wrestling and some other events. He interacted with athletes during these events and charged them to excel in their events.

Delta's Sports Commission Executive Chairman, Amaju Pinnick personally rewards each gold medalist from Delta with N50,000. This is not part of what the state government would do for the athletes at the end of the festival.

Delta has won four out of the last six sports festivals and Uduaghan is determined to win the Lagos show.

Medal Table

State G S B Total

Delta 23 16 18 57

Rivers 17 11 15 43

Lagos 13 10 14 37

Edo 4 5 12 21

Bayelsa 4 2 8 14

Ogun 3 7 9 19

Oyo 3 5 2 10

Cross River 3 2 2 7

Ebonyi 3 1 0 4

Akwa Ibom 2 5 3 10