ABUJA - National Sports Commission director-general, Dr. Amos Adamu has explained the decision to postpone this year’s National Sports Festival, while confirming that the events will still be hosted by Kaduna State.
Adamu said in an exclusive interview with brilafm.net that postponement of the festival for the second time this year became compulsory as facilities meant for the festival were not ready.
He insisted that it would be unfair to have a competition of that magnitude holding in venues
with below standard, while disclosing that the festival will now hold in February next year.
“We’ve shifted the opening date to the 15th of February next year, after we recently inspected facilities in Kaduna. The reason is that we want the facilities to be fully ready,” the NSC director-general explained.
Adamu went further to state that the hosting was not withdrawn from Kaduna State in order not to throw a spanner in the wheel of efforts already taken by the government to receive the nation.
“We felt they still need a little more time to put some things in order, and for them to put into use the facilities that have already been put in place.
“Kaduna will still host the Games as a way of encouraging them to upgrade their facilities,” he expatiated.
On possible effects of the postponement on athletes that have been in training for several months, the NSC top shot noted that allowing Kaduna get its facilities ready is as important as preparing competitors for the event.
“In as much as we prepare athletes for the event, the venue must also be put in order for them to have a hitch free festival,” Adamu concluded, with a hint that the athletes would now have more time to put finishing touches to their preparations.
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