BEVERLY HILLS, March 31, (THEWILL) – With only a few days to the commencement of the long-awaited and serially-postponed 20th National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged “Edo 2020,” the pre-commencement inspection of the games facilities was undertaken by the state’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, who is also the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Taken around the complex by the Director of Facilities, Edo State Sports Commission, Victor Edokpayi, Shaibu, who had a firsthand tour of the facilities ahead of the scheduled April 2 kickoff, confidently reassured participating athletes that the state was prepared to host a successful game.
Among the facilities Shaibu inspected were those for Wrestling, Boxing, Gymnastics, Judo, Kung Fu, Karate and Swimming, Lawn Tennis Court, Basketball facilities at Wire Road.
Others were the Storage facility; LOC Secretariat Staff office; Office of the Secretary General of LOC; Conference Hall for Press Conferences and Indoor Sports Hall, Etete.
Part of the tour included visiting the athletes representing the host state, Team Edo.
Shaibu went to see them at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where they had been vaccinated against COVID-19 and were going through PCR screening in preparation for their active participation in the events.
While the Deputy Governor made the rounds of the facilities, he seized the opportunity to refute rumours circling online and in some media that plans were afoot to switch the venue of the NSF from Edo to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Shaibu was unambiguous in his rebuttal: “The rumours that the Federal Ministry of Sports wants to take the games from Edo to Abuja is not true as the Minister and the Permanent Secretary have denied it.
“I spoke with the Minister who said he didn’t release any statement of such, likewise the PS. Edo State is hosting for the love of the nation and national interest to help our athletes shape up to win at the Tokyo Olympics games.”
However, he reiterated the state government’s solicitation for financial assistance from the Federal Government due to the economic strain the COVID-19-enforced postponements had wreaked on the budget for the games, as previously reported by THEWILL:
“We are hopeful that the games will go on but only to the extent that we are funded. We are ready. We have gone round the facilities because we believe that we will be funded; that is why the competition equipment is being unveiled and installed.
“The equipment for Edo 2020 are the latest sporting equipment and the type they will meet in the Tokyo Olympics, which is why the contingents will be camping in Edo. We are ready.”
The LOC Chairman was also particular about the state’s ambition for the upcoming games, for which they clearly prepared whilst organising for the hosting.
“We are hosting to win and we must win clean without using drugs or cheats. We trust you and know you will make us proud: we will not do anything to give us a bad name.
“Our junior brothers, Delta State, are already boasting that they will win; we will tell them that we are their senior brothers and will clinch the most gold medals to win the games.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
