By Ayodele Oni
The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo is expected to officially declare the 20th edition of the national sports festival open in Benin City, Edo state on Tuesday.
A few days ago, there were publications to the effect that the venue of the much awaited 20th Edition of the National Sports Festival had been relocated to Abuja. But before such satanic news could cause any bad blood, Minister for Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, debunked it. And, finally, it kicked off in the Edo State capital on Saturday.
Already, Benin city is agog as not less than 8,000 athletes are trooping into the state to vie for honours in 40 events.
The festival was initially scheduled for March 20 to April 6, 2020, but was put off as a result of the outbreak of the Corona Virus pandemic.
It again suffered three more postponements in December 2020 as well as in January and February this year, due to paucity of funds, with the Edo State Government saying it lacked the financial strength to host the national event.
The main arena for the festival, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, has been refurbished to world-class standard, with other centres expected to host various events, also in good shape.
The Deputy Governor of the state and Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the Games, Philip Shaibu, told journalists in Benin City that everything was in place as the state was fully prepared to host a befitting event.
While shedding light on the programme of event, Shaibu explained that the Unity Torch for the Games would arrive Edo on Saturday and would tour the 18 local government areas of the state, before finally arriving at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium main bowl on April 6, where Governor Godwin Obaseki would light it up.
“The Games village opens on Saturday, with athletes and officials expected to present certificates and documentation of COVID-19 tests and vaccination before they are admitted into the facility.
“The visa to be admitted into the Games Village is the evidence that you have taken the COVID-19 vaccine. Athletes at the Games Village will also take the PCR test 72 hours before the commencement of the Games.
“We are not going to compromise on that as we have agreed with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19.
“As a state, we have been able to flatten the curve of the second wave of the pandemic and will not want to use the hosting of the Games to spark off another wave.
“From about 14,000 athletes that were to compete, we have been able to reduce it to about 8,000 athletes.
“We have a facility prepared for about 18,000 persons, which has now provided opportunity and space for social distancing even in the area of accommodation. We will have a festival that is COVID-19 free.”
The deputy governor also rated some of the equipment at the games centre saying “the idea is not to bring world-class equipment for the National Sports Festival, the idea is to expose our young ones in Edo.
“By the time they get used to this kind of facilities, if any of them is invited for any national or international event or other opportunities to participate in any other event, they won’t be looking too naive because these are facilities they are already used to and we want to give them the best.”
