ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE– The curtains officially drew on the 22nd National Sports Festival, aptly dubbed “Gateway Games 2024,” hosted with flair and fanfare in Ogun State. While powerhouse Delta State once again asserted its dominance, clinching the overall victory for an unprecedented fifth consecutive time, the host state, Ogun, delivered a dramatic and historic performance, executing a stunning final-day surge to snatch the silver medal position from Bayelsa State in a thrilling conclusion to Nigeria’s premier multi-sport event.
Delta State, true to their reputation, emerged as the undisputed champions with an impressive medal haul of 109 GOLD🥇, 75 Silver🥈, and 87 Bronze🥉 medals, totaling 271. Their consistent excellence across various disciplines cemented their status as Nigeria’s sporting powerhouse.
The true spectacle, however, was the battle for the second spot. On the final day of competition, Ogun State’s athletes rose to the occasion, adding three crucial gold medals to their tally. This remarkable display of determination propelled the “Gateway State” past Bayelsa. Ogun officially finished in second place with a historic total of 238 medals: an impressive 93 GOLD🥇, 65 Silver 🥈, and 80 Bronze🥉. This marks Ogun State’s best-ever performance in the history of the National Sports Festival, a fitting achievement as hosts.
Bayelsa State, despite a formidable campaign throughout the Games, had to settle for a commendable third place on the final medal table. Their strong contingent secured a combined 228 medals, comprising 92 GOLD🥇, 65 Silver🥈, and 71 Bronze🥉.
The Gateway Games 2024, which commenced with its official opening by President Bola Tinubu on May 18th, brought together over 11,000 athletes from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The festival, often referred to as “Nigeria’s Olympics,” lived up to its promise of fostering unity and showcasing the nation’s finest sporting talents across more than 32 events.
The closing ceremony, held on Thursday, May 29th, at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, was a vibrant and star-studded affair. It was a triple celebration, coinciding with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s 65th birthday and his sixth year in office. The event featured electrifying performances by award-winning songstress Waje and Fuji music icon King Wasiu Ayinde (K1 De Ultimate), culminating in a breathtaking fireworks display that lit up the Abeokuta skyline. Senate President Godswill Akpabio represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, praising Ogun State’s organizational prowess.
As the torch passes to Enugu State, the designated host for the 2026 National Sports Festival, the Gateway Games 2024 will be remembered not just for Delta’s continued dominance, but for Ogun State’s inspiring surge to secure a memorable second-place finish on home soil.
