Athletics events of the 18th National Sports Festival begin today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere Lagos and officials have warned participating athletes to keep to time or they will be ejected from the competitions.

Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials disclosed that the programme will run according to the time table and the participating States officials have a responsibility to get their athletes ready.

"We want to follow international standards starting from this Festival. All the events will run according to schedule and if any athlete comes a second late to his or her event, they out of the competition," said AFN vice president Jide Josiah.

He added that the federation was ready to deliver an hitch free athletics event.

Meanwhile, the AFN yesterday listed Coach Tony Osheku, Olympic medalists, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, Falilat Ogunkoya-Omotayo, Sunday Uti and Moses Ugbisien in the team to monitor budding athletes at the track & field events of the 18th National Sports Festival.