… as opening ceremony holds today
No fewer than 300 athletes have been disqualified by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for over age falsification at the ongoing National Youth Games in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The Director of Grassroots Sports Development in the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, Ademola Are revealed on Sunday that all the athletes must undergo the screening to be eligible to contest at the games.
He said this 4th edition of the National Youth Games would be different from previous editions and as such that the Federal Minitry of Sports is taking necessary steps to ensure some of the challenges faced in the previous games doesn’t repeat itself.
He reiterated that state’s found guilty will pay the sum of N250,000 per athlete and the coaches face a one year ban.
Are said the Ministry condemns the attitude of winning by presenting over aged players.
“We want to ensure that the screening committee does a good job.
“We don’t want to indulge states that want to win medals by all cost by presenting overage athletes.
“We have conscience and when you see a child less than 15 years old you know.
“Some persons raised the issue of documents like passport, child certificate and I told them sorry we might not go with that because they can always get alternative documents everywhere.
“We want to see these children physically and justice will be done accordingly”, Are said.
Meanwhile, Ondo State gymnastics coach, Austin Anthony has lauded the Ministry for its successful screening exercise.
He said the ministry did a great job this year by seeing the athletes physically and not allowing the coaches to be at the screening centre.
“The presence of the coaches might have influenced the decision of the officials.
“If the Youth Games remains U-15, Nigeria will have a template to produce future champions at International tournaments”, Anthony said.
Meanwhile, the opening ceremony will hold today, Monday at Unilorin Mini Stadium.
…8 things you should know about games
National Youth Games is an annual national grassroots sports tournament organised by Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development aimed at discovering and nurturing young talented athletes across Nigeria.
The 2018 version is the fourth edition of the competition.
Here are eight (8) important things you must to know about 2018 National Youth Games hosted by University of Ilorin, Kwara state.
1. The 2018 National Youth Games (NYG) is the first edition pegged at the age of 15 years. In the three previous editions it has always been Under 17 years categories.
2. 31 states registered for this year’s NYG, the five missing states are as follows; Ondo, Edo, Yobe, Zamfara and Anambra states.
3. As at today, Sunday September 9th, 2018 twenty three states are already on ground undergoing screening exercise at the Unilorin Multipurpose hall while other eight states are on their way .
4. Screening is done physically by looking at the faces of the athletes by the screening committee of the Local Organising Committee.
5. Lagos state participates this year after missing two consecutive editions.
Team Lagos registered for 5 team sports among which are; handball (boys and girls), Basketball (girls), beach volleyball (girls)
6. States participating in Para-powerlifting sport will be allowed to field over age athletes.
7. The opening ceremony of the 2018 National Youth Games will take place on Monday 10th September 2018 and not Saturday 7th September as it was scheduled
8. University of Ilorin will host the next 5 editions of the tournament unless other states come up with better facilities to partner with the Ministry of Youth and Sports on NYG.
