The commissioner for Sports Development, Bayelsa State, Dr. Daniel Igali, has eulogised the importance of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to the development of sports across the country.
This is as he also confirmed that by the end of the first quarter of 2025 the Wrestling Gym at the Samson Siasia Stadium, which was put on hold for sometime will be completed as intensive reconstruction work commenced a few weeks back.
Dr. Igali made the assertion during the Bayelsa 2024 SWAN WEEK awards night to conclude the week-long events that featured Road-walk, football events, and indoor games such as Scrabble, Chess and Table Tennis.
The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, noted that the achievements of athletes and administrators in various competitions can not be widely spread and accepted without the support and reportage of the Sports Writers.
“I want to start by giving kudos to the organisers of this events, each time we have our conversations in private I keep telling them that, especially in the areas of sports, if you don’t have SWAN and broadcasters, it is equivalent to a tree falling in the forest and if nobody is there you don’t hear the sound.”
“The Sports Writers in Bayelsa State have done such a noble job of broadcasting the achievements of our athletes, umpires and administrators not only in Nigeria but to Africa and the rest of the world and I really want to applaud you.”
Igali, who was elated to be recognised by SWAN, dedicated the award to the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo for the conducive platform giving him to serve.
