Fidelis Ebu
21 December 2008
Chief Patrick Ekeji, the acting director-general of the National Sports Commission (NSC) over the weekend insisted that nothing would take the 16th National Sports Festival away from the host Kaduna State just as he confirmed that the facilities in place would be test-run on January 15, 2009 to ascertain their suitability to host the Games.
Explaining the reason for shifting the festival, Ekeji said that apart from the Ahmadu Bello Stadium which is being renovated, construction works are still going in other areas such as the Murtala Square and other venues in the bid to leave a legacy after the hosting of the Games. The festival has, however, been confirmed to start from February 15 to 23, 2009.
"A lot of work has been done and almost at completion stages while some have been completed. The 16th National Sports Festival is still on course. The host Kaduna State is doing its best to provide facilities and we have every assurance that it would deliver a successful Games," Chief Ekeji said.
While stressing that it would not be proper at this stage to deny Kaduna State the hosting right, he however stated that foreign-based athletes would not be accommodated in the Festival.
"We have set December 31 as the deadline for submission of registration, and there would be no room for poaching of athletes this time," he said.
The director-general however assured that back up measures would be taken into consideration before awarding the subsequent hosting rights to states.
While reeling out programmes for the festival, Chief Ekeji stated that between January 7 and 9, 2009 that there would be another meeting between the Main Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee in Kaduna where outstanding issues would be exhaustively discussed.
"We intend to organise workshop and training sessions in January for the ushers recruited to direct guests, athletes as well as officials just as it is done in major Games.
"Soon after the training session, we will test-run the facilities in place for the festival on January 15. And between January 19 and 24 we would embark on delegates registration meeting (DRM) between MOC and the LOC. The DRM would hold at the six zonal centres across the country as we are determined to host a credible Games that would be devoid of acrimonies and rancour.
"The spirit of the National Sports Festival is hinged on development, so it would not be open as some states have been clamouring for," he said.
While expecting over 14,000 athletes at the festival, Ekeji also said that the festival torch would start its journey to Kaduna from January 27 moving through zones before arriving Kaduna on February 15 when the events of the festival start.
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