The Federal Inland Revenue Service Headquarters, Abuja emerged the overall winner of the just concluded 36th edition of Federal Public Service Games on Saturday in Bauchi.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that FIRS topped the medal table with 10 Gold medals, while Bauchi and the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports came second and third position with 10 and nine Gold medals respectively.
Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State, while declaring the games closed, noted that the competition was conducted in a healthy and friendly manner which demonstrated the sportsmanship by the athletes.
Abubakar further noted FESPGA had become an arena for the promotion of friendship and ideas among participants who came from different backgrounds and commended the organisers of the fiesta.
He said that sports nowadays was an effective tool for fostering unity and friendship among communities and nations.
The governor observed that many countries were committing substantial parts of their resources to the development of sports, to foster friendship and unity among themselves and nations.
He said that the state government had, in spite of its lean resources, committed huge resources into sports development especially on the provision of infrastructure and other facilities to boost sporting activities in the state.
The President of FESPGA, Dahiru Hassan, said that sports was an emotional thing which could create tension.
He said that the desire to compete and win was not equally an easy task but “it could even result into occasional frictions and some cases lead to misunderstanding between opponents”.
Hassan warned athletes not to take such frictions and misunderstanding beyond the field of play.
He noted the lapses committed by both athletes and officials, saying that “we are learning, there is no perfect human being; perfection belongs to God; to err is human and to forgive is divine and in the spirit of sportsmanship I plead for forgiveness and understanding”.
Hassan added: “To all athletes and officials who may have been hurt in one way or the other, please forgive and forget as this is our unique and united family.
“I want to commend the sporting press for the wonderful coverage of the activities of the federation that have inspired and encouraged both the athletes and officials during the tournament.”